Buckingham Palace has been drawn into the Jeffrey Epstein scandal following revelations that the disgraced financier, alongside Donald Trump, was a guest at the late Queen Elizabeth II's private residence, Windsor Castle.
The disclosure emerged from a trove of newly unsealed US court documents related to a civil case against Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
When questioned by The Independent, a Palace official confirmed that all visitors to the castle undergo what was described as a "thorough security check." However, the statement stopped short of providing specific details about the nature of the visit or the protocols followed for Epstein.
The Royal Guest List
The court documents detail an account from Johanna Sjoberg, a woman who alleges she was recruited by Maxwell to give sexualised massages to Epstein. Sjoberg testified that Epstein himself told her he was travelling to Windsor to see Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.
She further stated that on the return journey, their helicopter was unable to land in New York due to bad weather. It was then, she claims, that Epstein suggested they could "drop in on Trump" instead.
Security Protocols Under the Microscope
The revelation raises significant questions about the security vetting processes for visitors to the monarch's private homes. Epstein, at the time of the visit, was a wealthy financier but was also a convicted sex offender.
Buckingham Palace's response emphasises that standard procedures are in place, stating: "We don't comment on individual guests or security checks, but all visitors to the Royal residences undergo a thorough security check."
This incident places a renewed spotlight on the associations between high-profile figures, including members of the British royal family and US politicians, and the convicted criminal.
