Jeffrey Epstein received stark warnings to sever all connections with Prince Andrew amid concerns the royal was severely damaging the financier's public image, according to newly uncovered documents.
The damning PR memo
A confidential memo from June 2011 revealed that Epstein's public relations advisors at Osborne & Partners urgently counselled him to distance himself from Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The communication forms part of a massive 20,000-page document release from the Epstein estate.
The warning came nearly two years after Epstein's release from prison in July 2009, where he had served thirteen months of an eighteen-month sentence for soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution with a minor. At the time the memo was written, Epstein was actively attempting to rebuild his public profile.
The advisors highlighted particular concern about a photograph taken in December 2010 showing Epstein and Prince Andrew walking together through Central Park. This public appearance occurred just five months after Epstein left prison.
Reputation repair efforts
The PR firm's communication delivered blunt advice, stating that association with Prince Andrew would be 'disastrous for your image'. The memo explicitly warned Epstein against being seen to 'facilitate his lifestyle or to help with his well documented issues.'
Advisors noted that the press was actively pursuing Epstein 'as a means to attack Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson'. The firm recommended that Epstein should 'studiously avoid any involvement whatsoever with the couple' to protect his reputation.
Another critical component of the reputation management strategy involved manipulating online search results. The documents reveal Epstein sought to 'clean up' Google searches about him, as most results referenced 'the charges, paedophilia, Prince Andrew, and unflattering stories.'
Royal consequences and denials
The released papers detail how Epstein hired 'Israeli experts' to optimise search results and highlight his philanthropic work while downplaying his criminal convictions.
The association with Epstein ultimately proved devastating for Prince Andrew's royal standing. The former Duke of York was recently stripped of his titles and removed from Royal Lodge after his connections with Epstein became untenable for the monarchy.
Prince Andrew has consistently denied sexual allegations made against him and maintains he never met Virginia Giuffre, his primary accuser. Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, though in 2022 the prince reached an out-of-court settlement with her regarding her claims of being forced to have sex with him on three occasions.
Epstein died in custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
