Prince Andrew told Jeffrey Epstein in an email “we are in this together” after a photograph of the British royal with a teenage Virginia Giuffre was first published in 2011, newly released correspondence has revealed.
The email, sent on 28 February 2011, the day after the image of the duke, Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell became public, contradicts the Duke of York’s earlier claim that he had ceased contact with the convicted child sex offender in December 2010.
In the message, Andrew wrote to Epstein: “I’m just as concerned for you! Don’t worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it. Otherwise keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!” He signed off as “A, HRH The Duke of York, KG”.
The duke had told the BBC’s Newsnight programme in 2019 that he broke off his friendship with Epstein after the two were photographed together in New York in December 2010. He later said he met Epstein that month to tell him “that’s it”.
Separately, documents released at the National Archives reveal that Tony Blair met Epstein in Downing Street in May 2002, after a recommendation from Peter Mandelson, who described Epstein as “safe” and a “friend”.
