LONDON — Newly uncovered documents related to Jeffrey Epstein have intensified scrutiny on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s connections with the disgraced financier, a relationship that has already resulted in what many perceive as royal exile for the former prince. The files include an email in which an unidentified sender refers to their stay at Balmoral, the royal residence in Scotland, and inquires with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell about finding “new inappropriate friends.”
Among the significant details in these documents are requests from U.S. authorities to interview Andrew concerning two separate criminal investigations. One focuses on Epstein himself, while the other targets Peter Nygard, a Canadian fashion mogul charged with multiple counts of sexual assault against women and minors. While Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing, the U.S. Justice Department’s formal request to the U.K. has revealed previously undisclosed interests in speaking with him about Nygard’s alleged sex trafficking operations in the Bahamas.
The April 2020 request specifies that U.S. investigators seek to question Andrew about supposed visits to “Nygard Cay,” a site linked to trafficking activities. The investigation indicates that Andrew may have been present at Nygard’s estate, prompting U.S. authorities to inquire about his interactions with any females who seemed underage during his visits.
Moreover, the investigation into Epstein is reignited by claims that Prince Andrew had knowledge of Maxwell recruiting women for sexual acts involving Epstein and other men. While documents mention evidence suggesting that Andrew may have engaged in conduct with one of Epstein’s victims, the emphasis remains on the fact that he is not a target of the investigations and that there is no evidence implicating him, according to U.S. law.
The released files also include allegations made by a woman identified as “Jane Doe #3,” who is believed to be Virginia Giuffre. She has accused Epstein of trafficking her as a teenager for sexual encounters with Andrew, with claims of incidents occurring in London, New York, and on Epstein’s private island. Although Andrew reached a settlement with Giuffre in a civil lawsuit in 2022 without admitting liability, the matter continues to cast a long shadow over his public reputation.
In the newly released files, there are additional details from exchanges between Andrew’s legal team and U.S. prosecutors from early 2020, illustrating a protracted negotiation over a potential interview. Following Andrew’s highly criticized 2019 BBC interview, he expressed willingness to assist law enforcement agencies in their investigations, although subsequent claims from U.S. authorities indicated a lack of cooperation from his side.
The correspondence revealed in the documents includes messages between Maxwell and a contact referred to as “A,” which appears to be Andrew himself. Notably, in one email dated August 2001, “A” expressed a desire for “inappropriate friends,” leading to a troubling representation of his social circle during a time of upheaval in his life.
In a separate exchange highlighting Maxwell’s plans, she mentions assisting Andrew in organizing activities during a visit to Peru in 2002, although there are no allegations of illegal activities related to that trip.
The renewed focus on Andrew’s connections to Epstein and Nygard continues to bring attention to issues surrounding high-profile individuals connected to allegations of sexual misconduct. As investigations proceed, the hope remains that justice can be served for the victims involved in these troubling cases.