A victim of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has sensationally claimed that the disgraced financier joked about wanting to 'adopt' Prince Andrew into his 'family' while the royal was visiting his New York mansion. The revelation adds a disturbing new layer to the long-standing scandal surrounding the Duke of York's association with the convicted sex offender.
Informal Atmosphere During Royal Visit
According to Mia, a former Russian model who was in Epstein's orbit for over five years and has received a payout as one of his victims, Prince Andrew's December 2010 visit to Epstein's £60 million Manhattan townhouse was marked by an unusually informal atmosphere. She told the Mail on Sunday that when Andrew came to stay for a week, the women surrounding Epstein—many later revealed as victims of his abuse—were allowed to dress casually in 'sportswear'.
'With Andrew it was very informal, like family,' Mia recalled. 'JE [Epstein] even used to say: "We should adopt Andrew into our family." He was so nice, he fit in so well. But everything felt very family-like.'
Stark Contrast to Other Visitors
This informal treatment stood in stark contrast to the protocol when other powerful associates visited. Mia noted that when Bill Gates came to the mansion, the women were ordered to wear white blouses and knee-length skirts or tailored trousers. The relaxed environment during Andrew's visit raises further questions about the nature of their relationship.
Timing of Visit Raises Eyebrows
Prince Andrew's 2010 visit occurred just five months after Epstein was released from house arrest following his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child. Mia expressed bewilderment that Andrew did not appear suspicious of being surrounded by young women in Epstein's company.
'Everyone thought I was a teenager altogether; I look very young,' she said. 'So, what were we all doing there? And if he [Andrew] didn't have any such questions, that's strange. At the time, he seemed just so cool, so pleasant, but in fact, people of his level legitimised someone like Jeffrey Epstein.'
The Infamous Central Park Walk
Mia was among several women who accompanied Epstein and Prince Andrew on their now infamous walk through Central Park on December 5, 2010. Photographer Jae Donnelly captured the two men strolling together—an image that has haunted Andrew for years. Mia believes the walk was 'spontaneous' and that Epstein did not intend to attract press attention.
'We were walking behind them,' she remembered. 'I remember I didn't have warm clothes at the time. I borrowed someone's jacket from the house. It was this huge, ugly jacket. It was very cold.'
Explaining Controversial Photographs
Mia also shed new light on extraordinary photographs from the Epstein Files showing Prince Andrew on all fours, leaning over a young woman, believed to have been taken in the mansion's dining room during the New York trip. She explained that Epstein often asked women to lie down so he could supposedly help relieve back tension.
'He [Epstein] had this trick when he met women; one of the first things he'd say: "You've got such tension in your back, I'll do an adjustment for you,"' Mia revealed. 'And he'd do these things, lay them on the floor and all the bones would crack. Maybe Andrew did the same, maybe JE taught him to do it? Because otherwise why lie on the floor?'
Questions of Legitimacy and Judgment
The victim's account underscores how Epstein used his association with high-profile figures like Prince Andrew to create an aura of legitimacy. Mia questioned her own position in the situation, noting the power dynamics at play.
'And if a British prince is a guest at such a person's house, and you're like a girl from nowhere...who am I to judge someone like JE, when the British prince himself visits his house, jokes around?' she reflected.
These latest claims add to the mounting scrutiny of Prince Andrew's ties to Epstein, following the royal's arrest earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The informal, 'family-like' atmosphere described by Mia contrasts sharply with the gravity of Epstein's crimes and the ongoing investigations into his network.
