Epstein Emails Confirm Andrew Photo Is Real, Expose Royal Pleas

Epstein Emails Confirm Andrew Photo Is Real, Expose Royal Pleas

A newly unsealed trove of Jeffrey Epstein’s emails confirms the infamous “Andrew and Virginia” photograph is genuine — and reveals the then-Prince’s desperate pleas to the paedophile financier to clear his name.

In the 2011 exchanges, Epstein explicitly acknowledged the authenticity of the photo showing Prince Andrew with 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, writing: “Yes, she was on my plane, and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew.” The messages also expose the Duke of York’s direct contact with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell months after claiming he had cut ties with them, begging: “Please make sure every statement says I knew nothing. I can’t take any more of this.”

The cache, released by the US House Oversight Committee, includes Epstein urging a journalist to discredit Giuffre, calling her a “total liar” and saying Buckingham Palace “would love it” if she were proven fraudulent. The photo — taken by Epstein at Maxwell’s London townhouse before a dinner and nightclub outing — has long been the symbol of Giuffre’s claims that she was forced to have sex with Andrew, allegations he denies.

The revelations demolish years of attempts by Andrew’s allies to suggest the image was doctored. Both Maxwell and the Duke had previously claimed inconsistencies in his appearance, insisting it was fake. Epstein’s own confirmation now leaves those defences in tatters.

The emails also drag Lord Mandelson further into the scandal, showing he remained in contact with Epstein as late as 2016 — years after the financier’s conviction. Mandelson even warned Epstein not to do a BBC interview about his links to Andrew and exchanged personal messages about his private life.

The disclosures will reignite calls for Andrew to face questioning by US authorities, deepen his exile from royal duties, and could hasten his eviction from the Royal Lodge.

Key Takeaways:

• Epstein’s own emails confirm the “Andrew and Virginia” photo is genuine.

• The Duke of York begged Epstein and Maxwell to help clear his name.

• Lord Mandelson’s continued ties to Epstein extend years beyond previously known.

Source: Daily Mail