Newly released US justice department files suggest that the Duke of York attended an intimate dinner with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in December 2010, months after Epstein's release from prison. The documents, published on Friday, include emails from Hollywood publicist Peggy Siegal inviting high-profile figures to a 'last-minute casual dinner' for Andrew, who was in New York on an 'unofficial private visit' and staying at Epstein's home.
The guest list drawn up by Siegal included film director Woody Allen and his wife Soon-Yi Previn, political strategist George Stephanopoulos and his wife Alexandra Wentworth, journalist Katie Couric, and talk show host Charlie Rose. It is unclear who ultimately attended, though Wentworth reportedly withdrew due to ill children. Siegal told Stephanopoulos that coming on time would allow 'private time with Andrew as he is staying at the house.'
Andrew had previously stated that the purpose of his December 2010 trip was to sever ties with Epstein, whom he described as a former friend. In a 2019 Newsnight interview, he said he chose to meet in person rather than end the friendship over the telephone. However, the emails indicate the dinner was organised at Epstein's residence.
Other correspondence released includes an exchange between Epstein and an account named 'The Duke' in August 2010, where Epstein suggested introducing a 26-year-old Russian woman to Andrew. The account, signed 'A' with an email footer reading 'HRH Duke of York KG', responded positively, asking for contact details. In another email, Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's accomplice, addressed a sender calling themselves 'The Invisible Man' as 'Andrew' and referred to 'Sarah and the kids'.
Andrew has consistently denied allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2022, he paid a reported £12 million settlement to Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked to him by Epstein, without admitting liability. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges, and Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role.
