In a dramatic development that threatens to reignite the Royal Family's connections to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, a former employee of the disgraced financier has made a potentially explosive claim under oath.
Sarah Ransome, who previously worked for Epstein, provided testimony alleging that the late Queen Elizabeth II was resident at Buckingham Palace on the day Prince Andrew is accused of meeting his accuser, Virginia Giuffre. This assertion directly challenges the Duke of York's long-standing alibi.
The Central Allegation
Ms. Ransome's deposition, given in 2021 and recently unsealed, states she was told by Ghislaine Maxwell that Prince Andrew was 'with the Queen on the throne' during the period in question. This phrase is interpreted to mean the Queen was in residence and carrying out her official duties at the palace.
This testimony directly contradicts Prince Andrew's famous 2019 Newsnight interview, where he claimed he was at a Pizza Express in Woking on the day Ms. Giuffre says she was forced to have sex with him at Ghislaine Maxwell's London home.
Palace Response and Legal Wrangling
Buckingham Palace has issued a swift and firm rebuttal, dismissing the claims as 'categorically untrue' and 'without foundation'. A spokesperson reiterated that the Duke has repeatedly denied all allegations made against him.
The testimony forms part of a vast trove of documents recently unsealed from a settled lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell. While the claims are not proven facts and represent the words of a single witness, they add a new layer of complexity to one of the most damaging episodes for the modern monarchy.
A Persistent Shadow
Despite settling a civil case with Ms. Giuffre for a reported £12 million in 2022, Prince Andrew has been unable to escape the long shadow cast by his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The release of these documents ensures the scandal remains firmly in the public eye, posing an ongoing reputational challenge for The Firm.
The unsealed files also contain other allegations, including claims from a second woman, Johanna Sjoberg, who stated Prince Andrew groped her breast while sitting on a couch inside Epstein's Manhattan apartment.
