A significant new cache of documents released by the US Department of Justice in relation to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has revealed a series of emails that appear to contain compelling links to the Duke of York, Prince Andrew.
The 'Invisible Man' and the Balmoral Summer Camp
The documents include correspondence from 2001 between Ghislaine Maxwell and an individual who signs off as "A" and "The Invisible Man". While not explicitly named, the emails contain specific personal details that closely match the then-working royal's life at the time.
In one email dated 16 August 2001, 'A' writes: "I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family." The sender complains of exhaustion and mentions having to give "the Girls" an early night, adding: "How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?"
Contemporary newspaper reports confirm that Prince Andrew was at Balmoral with his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, then aged 13 and 11, in August 2001. One report details a "fire scare" caused by burnt toast, aligning with the sender's description of a busy family stay.
Valet's Death and Royal Navy Exit Cited
Further compelling evidence emerges in a follow-up email sent on 18 August 2001. The sender, 'A', states: "Distraught! You probably wouldn’t know but I lost my valet on Thursday. He died in his sleep. He had been with me since I was 2."
The email continues, "I am a little off balance as not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN and now my whole life is in turmoil." The use of "RN" is a clear reference to the Royal Navy.
These details are a precise match for Prince Andrew's circumstances. His valet, Michael Perry, 61, died in August 2001. Reports from the time stated the Prince was "devastated" and that Perry had worked for him since childhood. Furthermore, Prince Andrew had indeed left the Royal Navy in July 2001 after a 22-year career.
Planning a Visit to Peru
The email trail also covers plans for an overseas trip. In a message dated 28 February 2002, 'A' tells Maxwell: "I am going to have more time after tomorrow to know what will happen and when in Peru so I will be in touch again on Friday."
This was a response to forwarded messages from a contact named Juan Estoban Ganoza, outlining potential activities including seeing the Nazca Lines. Prince Andrew, then a UK trade envoy, did undertake an official visit to Peru in March 2002, with photographs documenting his presence in Lima.
Perhaps most notably, in an email from 3 March 2002, Ghislaine Maxwell appears to forward a message to Ganoza, writing: "I just gave Andrew your telephone no. He is interested in seeing the Nazca Lines." It is the only instance where the name "Andrew" is used directly. The forwarded message requests discretion, stating: "He does not want to read about any trip in the papers."
Prince Andrew has been approached for comment regarding these latest documents. In a previous statement from October, he said of claims about his links with Epstein: "I vigorously deny the accusations against me." The newly public correspondence is likely to intensify scrutiny of his association with the convicted financier and Ghislaine Maxwell.
