A fresh batch of photographs released by the US Department of Justice has cast a stark new light on the depth of the relationship between the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and the UK's former Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Pictures of Privilege and Access
The images, part of the latest tranche of so-called "Epstein files" made public, depict the trio at some of the most exclusive venues in British society. One photograph, believed to be from June 2000, shows Epstein, Maxwell, and Andrew together in the royal box at Ascot on Ladies Day, an event attended by the late Queen and the Queen Mother.
Another striking image from December 2000 shows Andrew, in black tie, lying across the laps of five women with redacted faces in the saloon room at Sandringham, reportedly during a celebration for Maxwell's 39th birthday. A further photo captures Epstein and Maxwell on the moorland near Balmoral, dressed for a shoot during a reported 1999 visit to the royal estate.
The 'Useful Idiot' and the Platinum Pass
Analysts and royal biographers suggest these visuals provide compelling evidence of the role Andrew played for the pair. Royal author Tina Brown, in her 2022 book The Palace Papers, wrote that Epstein privately considered the prince an "idiot" but a "useful" one.
She detailed how Epstein would fly Andrew to obscure foreign markets where governments were obliged to receive him, with Epstein posing as his investment adviser to negotiate deals. "With Andrew as frontman, Epstein could negotiate deals with these (often) shady players," Brown wrote.
Biographer Andrew Lownie, in his recent work, described Andrew as "easy prey for a rattlesnake like Epstein" and quoted a convicted fraudster and Epstein associate, Steven Hoffenberg, as calling the prince Epstein's "Super Bowl trophy".
Lasting Consequences and Ongoing Scrutiny
The repeated emergence of such images has been a source of significant reputational damage. They underscore why King Charles III felt compelled to strip his brother of his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022, and force him to stop using his HRH style.
The fallout continues. Andrew, who has consistently denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by Virginia Giuffre, now faces eviction from his home at Royal Lodge in Windsor. He is expected to move to a smaller private residence on the Sandringham estate next year.
Furthermore, he has faced calls from Democrats in the US Congress to give evidence to a committee investigating Epstein's activities, though he did not respond to a formal request by their deadline last month. Each new photograph serves as a potent reminder of a friendship that has proven ultimately destructive for the monarchy's spare.
