Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office has renewed questions about what the Royal Family knew about his connection with Jeffrey Epstein.
The King has reiterated his willingness to support authorities with their enquiries, and there is no suggestion he or any other members of the Royal Family are involved in wrongdoing.
Mountbatten-Windsor is accused of sharing sensitive information with the convicted paedophile financier while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
The former prince, who has been released under investigation, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Palace aides aware of concerns years before contact with Epstein ceased
As early as 1996, serious concerns were raised about Epstein’s behaviour.
In 2005, police in Florida began investigating Epstein after the family of a 14-year-old girl reports she was molested at his home.
Mountbatten-Windsor is understood to have first met Epstein in 1999, having been introduced via Ghislaine Maxwell.
Some former palace aides have admitted they were informed as early as 2007 after Epstein’s reputation and that Andrew should not be associating with him. In 2006 Epstein faced charges for multiple counts of unlawful sex with a minor.
However, emails from this time period and beyond, published in files released by the US Department of Justice, show that Mountbatten-Windsor and his staff at the Palace continued to correspond with the convicted paedophile.
Charles long argued for tougher action against brother
Charles was frustrated by his mother the late Queen’s willingness to turn a blind eye to Andrew’s shortfalls and had long argued for tougher action against his brother.
Some close to the King said that, although she forced her middle son to step down from royal duties and grudgingly took further steps to distance the monarchy from him, it was not enough for Charles.
The King is understood to have long argued for tougher action against his younger brother (Photo: Carl Court/AFP via Getty Images)The King has said the authorities have his “full and wholehearted support and co-operation”, which indicates that if he will share any relevant information if requested.
There is no suggestion that the King was aware of any potential criminality.
Unsavoury guests invited to Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday ball
Mountbatten-Windsor hosted Epstein, Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein at Windsor Castle for his eldest daughter Beatrice’s 18th birthday in 2006.
The masked ball was held two months after a US arrest warrant had been issued for Epstein for the sexual assault of a minor. The former duke also had Epstein, Maxwell and Weinstein spend time at Royal Lodge, his private residence at the time.
Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Camilla, William and Harry are believed to have stayed away from the party. William and Harry were reported to have been playing polo.
Contemporaneous reports from the BBC make no mention of senior members of the Royal Family being present at the elaborate party, which was reportedly attended by up to 500 guests.
“Royals the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Peter and Zara Phillips as well as veteran broadcaster Sir David Frost were among the guests expected to attend,” the BBC reported at the time.
Princess Beatrice’s elaborate 18th birthday ball at Windsor Castle was attended by Jeffrey Epstein (Photo: Mark Stewart/Camera Press)Hello magazine wrote that “some of Beatrice’s friends were no doubt disappointed her cousins William and Harry couldn’t make it along”.
It is not known if senior royals avoided attending because they were aware of Mountbatten-Windsor’s continued friendship with Epstein. Windsor Castle operates strict security measures but it is not clear which family members would have had oversight of the guestlist, and information about the individuals invited.
Of Epstein’s attendance, Mountbatten-Windsor said during the infamous Newsnight interview that he “wasn’t aware when the invitation was issued what was going on in the United States and I wasn’t aware until the media picked up on it because he never said anything about it”.
A source told The Sun on Sunday, which obtained the photograph of Weinstein, Epstein and Maxwell, that the picture “sums up just why the Epstein affair has been so disastrous for Andrew. He brought these people into the royal fold, to Windsor Castle no less, where they could rub shoulders with the great and good”.
Epstein invited to dine at Buckingham Palace
Among the three million documents released by the US Department of Justice in the latest batch of Epstein files are emails that appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor inviting Epstein to Buckingham Palace after his release from house arrest in 2010.
In an email from “The Duke” to Epstein in September 2010, he writes: “I am just departing Scotland should be down by 1800. I’ll ring you when I get down if you can give me a number to ring. Alternatively we could have dinner at Buckingham Palace and lots of privacy.”
Emails disclosed in the Epstein files appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor inviting Epstein to Buckingham Palace (Photo: US Department of Justice) Epstein files email appears to show Epstein discussing Fergie invite to Buckingham Palace (Photo: US Department of Justice)Another email from Epstein’s account sent to an email address, which has been redacted, on 26 September 2010 states: “i will be having dinnner [sic] at buckingham palace tomorrow evening. want to join?”
It is not clear if the palace staff or other members of the royal family were aware Mountbatten-Windsor was inviting Epstein to Buckingham Palace.
Another email from Epstein to Glenn and Eva Dubin states: “Fergie [Sarah Ferguson, Mountbatten-Windsor’s ex-wife] said she could organize tea in the Buckingham Palace apts [sic].. or Windsor Castle.. she said you should call her directly this is scperate [sic] from seeing peter at Number 10.”
Andrew and Epstein in New York in 2010
In 2010, four years after Epstein’s was first arrested and faced criminal charges for multiple counts of unlawful sex with a minor, Mountbatten-Windsor travelled to meet him in New York, where he stayed in his mansion.
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Mountbatten-Windsor said told Newsnight that he visited Epstein that year to end their relationship. He was photographed walking alongside Epstein in New York’s Central Park.
The image of the pair’s meeting sparked widespread scrutiny of the former prince’s scandalous connection with Epstein. However, emails from the Epstein files appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor remained in contact with Epstein after 2010.
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