The United States Department of Justice has released a trove of over three million documents relating to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with newly published emails revealing he arranged a dinner between Prince Andrew and a young Russian woman in 2010.
Compromising Correspondence Emerges
Among the documents made public on Friday is an email exchange from August 2010 between Epstein and an account labelled "The Duke", which signs off with "HRH The Duke of York KG". In the correspondence, Epstein writes: "I have a friend who I think you might enjoy having dinner with."
The account responds: "Of course. I am in Geneva until the morning of 22nd but would be delighted to see her. Will she be bringing a message from you? Please give her my contact details to get in touch. A."
Further Details Requested
Following a redacted email, "The Duke" asks for more information: "Great. Any other information you might know about her that might be useful to know? Like what have you told her about me and have you given her my email as well?"
Epstein replies with a description of the woman: "she 26, russian, clevere beautiful, trustworthy and yes she has your email."
The exchange continues with "The Duke" asking Epstein: "That was quick! How are you? Good to be free?" to which Epstein responds: "(redacted)..great to be free of many things." The correspondence concludes with "The Duke" expressing frustration about missed opportunities and suggesting: "Must come and see you sometime soon."
Additional Incriminating Exchanges
The document release includes other emails involving an account named "The Invisible Man", believed to be Prince Andrew, and disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. In one August 2002 exchange, Maxwell agrees that "Andrew" should choose to spend time with "Sarah and the kids" instead of visiting "the Island" where "5 stunning red heads" would be.
In an email signed "A", the sender writes: "As the planning is getting more difficult over the bank holiday weekend here I am thinking now I might join Sarah and the kids in Sotogrande for a few days which would be very important and a good thing for the girls, rather than trek across the pond."
Maxwell replies: "Andrew sweet heart – I fully understand if you want to spend time w/Sarah and the kids. I will not be remotely offended – sad not to spend time w/you and sad not to see you but at this point w/precious holidays and few days off I agree that this idea of coming to the Island looks less appealing."
Further Revelations and Context
Other released emails show Maxwell referring to "The Invisible Man" as "sweat pea" following the Queen Mother's death in 2002, and the sender asking a redacted account if they are having more children, labelling them "super sperm".
The documents form part of the ongoing "Epstein files" disclosure and follow previous releases in December that included an email from Balmoral signed "A" asking Maxwell for "inappropriate friends".
Background and Consequences
These revelations come amidst longstanding allegations against Prince Andrew, which he strenuously denies, that he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre when she was a teenager trafficked by Epstein. The Duke of York paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault claim with Ms Giuffre in 2022, though he maintains he never met her.
Prince Andrew stepped down from royal duties in 2019 following his controversial BBC Newsnight interview. The publication of Ms Giuffre's posthumous memoir and the ongoing release of Epstein documents have brought renewed scrutiny to his relationship with the financier.
This scrutiny ultimately led to King Charles III officially stripping his brother of both his HRH style and his prince title, marking a significant fall from grace for the once-senior royal.
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, with authorities ruling his death a suicide. The continued release of documents from his estate ensures the scandal surrounding his activities and associates remains firmly in the public eye.
