An image appearing to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with his arm around his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, has become infamous over the years amid the Epstein scandal.
Andrew, 65, has faced scrutiny for some time now over his association with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew also faced allegations of sexual assault from Ms Giuffre, who took her own life last April. Ms Giuffre alleged she was made to sleep with Andrew on three separate occasions in the early 2000s when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew has always vehemently denied the allegations.
The former prince previously addressed the now infamous image appearing to show him and Ms Giuffre in 2001. At the time, Andrew disputed the authenticity of the image. He stated that he had no recollection of it.
But now, an email has reportedly appeared to confirm that the photo may be genuine.
Infamous photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Virginia Giuffre ‘may be real’
The Daily Mail has reported that an email written by Epstein’s convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell has appeared to confirm the authenticity of the image.
The photograph appears to show Andrew with his arm around Ms Giuffre. Maxwell smiles in the background, at her London home in March 2001.
Now, a 2015 email appears to show Maxwell “stating for the record as fact” that she introduced Andrew to someone whose name is redacted – but is believed to be Ms Giuffre – in 2001.
It also seems to confirm that the image of Andrew and Ms Giuffre at Maxwell’s London home was taken the same day.
The email emerged among the US Department of Justice’s recent release of more than three million files relating to Epstein and his crimes.
In 2015, Maxwell allegedly sent Epstein an email asking for his approval after she had drafted a statement intended to hit back at reports of allegations in the press.
‘Prince Andrew came to my house to visit me’
Maxwell allegedly wrote in the statement: “In 2001 I was in London when [redacted] met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew.
“A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family. I never asked [redacted] to give him a massage.”
In the body of the email sent to Epstein, Maxwell allegedly wrote: “I am stating for the record as fact. Prince Andrew came to my house to visit me – [redacted] was in the house and they did meet.”
However, she reportedly claimed she had “no knowledge” of the person “having sexual activity” with Andrew or any other “famous people”.
Epstein reportedly replied, saying the statement left “too many unanswered questions”. He also allegedly added: “Her and andrew?…whats the deal here? why is she there.” [Sic]
Maxwell reportedly replied, saying she needed the statement “asap” and that she was advised to say “I was not aware of massage w/andrew in my house”. [Sic]
The email allegedly added: “These thing they have to stay, along w/meeting virginia and rebutting those allegations. I needs it asap.” [Sic]
Maxwell statement
In the statement, Maxwell also said: “The allegations made against me by [redacted] are lies. I have consistently stated that they are untrue and I have waited for an opportunity to prove this in a court of law.
“The salacious claims she makes are untrue and made purely for financial gain. The relentless media harassment to which I, Alan Dershowitz and Prince Andrew have been subjected to over the last week has become intolerable and breaches any justifiable sense of natural justice.”
Andrew has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Being named or pictured among the Epstein files is not an indication of wrongdoing.
What has Andrew said about the photo with Virginia Giuffre?
In his BBC Newsnight interview in November 2019, Andrew addressed the image.
He said: “I have seen the photograph. I have absolutely no memory of that photograph ever being taken.”
Andrew said he did recognise himself in the photograph, adding: “From the investigations we have done, you can’t prove whether or not that photograph is faked or not because it is a photograph of a photograph.”
Read more: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor finally leaves Royal Lodge ‘under the cover of darkness’
Andrew insisted he had “no recollection of the photograph ever being taken”.
The former prince also said he had no recollection of ever meeting Ms Giuffre.
Representatives for Andrew have been contacted for comment.
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