A photograph of the Duke of York, included in the latest tranche of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case, was allegedly taken during a party involving sex and drugs at the late Queen's private Sandringham estate, according to a royal author.
The Infamous Photograph and Its Setting
The image was among more than 13,000 new files made public by the US Department of Justice on Friday, 20 December 2025, following a Congressional mandate. It shows the former prince, dressed in a tuxedo, reclining across the laps of several women whose identities are not known. In the background, a beaming Ghislaine Maxwell – Epstein's former girlfriend and convicted sex trafficker – stands before an ornate, antique backdrop.
Author Robert Jobson, citing a palace source, identifies the room in his book The Windsor Legacy. He claims the intricate mouldings belong to a saloon at Sandringham Estate, a favourite private retreat of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The picture was reportedly taken during a celebration for Maxwell's 39th birthday in the year 2000.
Claims of a 'Blowout' Party at the Royal Residence
Jobson's account describes a raucous event that left royal staff shocked. He writes that after the alleged party, bathrooms on the estate were found to contain not just toiletries but also poppers (sex-enhancing drugs), lubricant, and condoms.
The saloon where the photo was taken is a significant private space for the Royal Family. It is traditionally used as a sitting room during their Christmas gatherings at Sandringham and is where they watch the monarch's pre-recorded Christmas Day speech.
Another royal author, Andrew Lownie, told the Mail that the image would "horrify" Andrew's family. He stated it was an "inner sanctum" and they would be "appalled that Andrew treated it as just another place to have fun and show off to his friends." The financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019, is believed to have attended the party but does not appear in this specific photograph.
Fallout and Denials
Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of abusing hundreds of women and girls. However, due to the scandal surrounding their association, the Duke was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022 and no longer uses the style His Royal Highness in an official capacity.
The latest document release also featured images of Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. She was pictured alongside figures whose faces have been redacted. Earlier this year, she had her remaining royal titles removed after a leaked email revealed she had referred to Epstein as a "supreme friend." Her representatives stated this description was used in an attempt to avoid being sued by him after she had condemned his crimes, and she has also denied any wrongdoing.
The release of these files does not in itself imply illegal activity by those pictured. Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment on the latest allegations concerning the Sandringham photograph.
