Newly released legal documents have exposed a detailed public relations strategy advising convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to deliberately avoid the former Duke of York, Prince Andrew. The 2011 memo, titled 'Issues of Reputation', warned the financier that their association was disastrous for his attempts to rebuild his public image following his 2008 conviction and 13-month jail sentence for soliciting underage sex.
The Damaging Royal Association
The step-by-step plan, prepared by PR firm Osborne & Partners, was part of a 20,000-page trove released from the Epstein estate by US lawmakers. It identified Epstein's connection to Prince Andrew as the most pressing issue requiring urgent attention, as it was generating significant negative press in the UK.
The memo was written just months after The Mail on Sunday first published Virginia Giuffre's allegations against the Duke, alongside the now-infamous 2001 photograph of Andrew with his arm around the then-teenager's waist. The document explicitly stated that Epstein needed to studiously avoid any involvement whatsoever with Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
A Digital Clean-Up Operation
Another urgent priority outlined in the memo was a campaign to clean up Epstein's online presence. The PR firm noted that searches of his name on major engines like Google returned pages of results linking him to paedophilia and Prince Andrew.
The memo proposed hiring a team of Israeli experts to optimise search results and suppress these unflattering stories. It emphasised that this digital reputation management was critically important, as search engines were the primary source of information about Epstein for most people.
The Long-Term Strategy and Its Ultimate Failure
The PR plan suggested that with careful planning and the passage of time, it would eventually be possible to promote positive stories about Epstein's philanthropy. The strategy included establishing him as a pioneer in science and technology, hosting annual events, and spending time with international political and business leaders.
Ironically, the very association the memo warned against eventually led to Prince Andrew's downfall. The ongoing revelations about their long-term relationship resulted in King Charles stripping Andrew of his titles and his Royal Lodge home on the Windsor estate.
The document release also included emails confirming that the infamous photograph of Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre, which Epstein took in London, was genuine. Ms Giuffre maintains she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, a claim the former prince continues to vehemently deny.
