An email believed to have been sent by Ghislaine Maxwell appears to confirm that a photograph of Prince Andrew with his arm around Virginia Giuffre’s waist is genuine. The message, released as part of the latest tranche of the Epstein files, was headed “draft statement” and sent by “G Maxwell” to Jeffrey Epstein in 2015.
In the email, Maxwell wrote: “In 2001 I was in London when [redacted] met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew. A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family.” The name of the person discussed has been redacted, but details suggest it was Giuffre, who alleged Andrew had sex with her three times when she was a teenager.
Prince Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing. He paid millions to Giuffre in 2022 to settle a civil sexual assault claim without admitting liability, and has previously questioned whether the photograph had been doctored. In a 2019 interview, he claimed he did not recollect the photograph being taken and said he was at a Pizza Express in Woking on the night in question.
Giuffre, who took her own life in April 2025, has been vindicated by the email, according to her family. Her brother, Sky Roberts, told the BBC’s Newsnight: “It really does vindicate her … she was not lying this entire time. It’s a moment where we’re really proud of our sister.”
The email adds that “G Maxwell” was not aware of “anything improper” taking place at her home. In December, the Metropolitan Police decided not to launch a full criminal investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew had sex with Giuffre in London in 2001, and that he pressured his police protection officer to find damaging information on her.
