A newly released photograph from the Jeffrey Epstein files has placed the disgraced Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, at the very heart of the Royal Family's private Christmas traditions. The image, one of 300,000 documents made public by US authorities, shows the former prince sprawled across the laps of several women in the historic Saloon Room at Sandringham Palace, with Ghislaine Maxwell looking on.
A Sacred Space Profaned
The setting of the photograph provides a jarring new context to Andrew's association with the convicted sex trafficker's accomplice. The Saloon Room at Sandringham is not merely a grand reception area; it is the hallowed space where the monarch's pre-recorded Christmas broadcast is watched by the assembled Royal Family, a tradition dating back to King George V in 1932. It is where the Windsors gather after dinner on December 25th to reflect on the year and enjoy each other's company.
In the black-and-white image, Andrew, clad in a black suit and bow tie, is seen lying across five women, his face just inches from the bare legs of one. Presiding over the scene is Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend convicted of sex trafficking. Visible in the left of the frame is the concealed door to the small private room where King George V delivered the first-ever royal Christmas broadcast.
Links to Royal Retreat Deepen Scandal
While the exact date of the photo remains unclear due to a lack of context in the document dump, it is known that Andrew hosted a surprise birthday party for Maxwell at the King's private Norfolk retreat in December 2000. He later infamously described the event as a "straightforward shooting weekend" in his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview. Other released photos show Epstein and Maxwell on a pheasant shoot at the estate around the same time.
The document release has intensified scrutiny on Andrew's ties to the financier. He has been dogged by allegations he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre when she was 17, which he has consistently denied. In 2022, he settled a civil case with her for a reported £12 million without admission of wrongdoing. The files also contain images of Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, posing with individuals on the street.
Festive Season Highlights Family Rift
The scandal continues to create profound divisions within the Royal Family, particularly as Christmas approaches. King Charles has invited Andrew's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to Sandringham for the festivities. However, sources say the princesses are caught in a "logistical and emotional nightmare," feeling equally loyal to the King and to their parents.
Princess Beatrice is said to feel particular pressure, feeling she "has to be in three places at once"—Sandringham, her father's home at Royal Lodge, and her own Cotswolds residence. Andrew himself has been discouraged from joining the family at Sandringham. The episode underscores how a season traditionally meant for unity now threatens to expose the deep fault lines within the House of Windsor, all under the shadow of a photograph taken in one of its most cherished rooms.
