A photograph taken on 10 March 2001 has become central to Virginia Giuffre's case against Prince Andrew. The image shows the duke with his arm around a 17-year-old Giuffre, alongside Ghislaine Maxwell, with Jeffrey Epstein behind the camera. Prince Andrew has claimed he has no recollection of the photo being taken and suggested it might have been doctored.
Former sex crimes prosecutor Wendy Murphy said the picture has 'no innocent explanation', noting that Maxwell's presence and the context of Epstein's sex trafficking conspiracy make it incriminating. The photo was published by the Mail on Sunday, which paid Giuffre $140,000 for it and $20,000 for interviews.
Giuffre alleges she was trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell to have sex with prominent figures, including Prince Andrew. She filed a civil lawsuit against the duke for sexual abuse, battery, and emotional distress. The case was settled in February 2022, with the duke making a substantial donation to Giuffre's charity.
The original photograph is reportedly lost. Giuffre said she last saw it before emigrating to Australia, possibly packed in a box with toys. The image remains one of the most infamous pictures of Prince Andrew, symbolising the scandal that has damaged his reputation.
