Revelations from Newly Released Documents
Documents released by the US Department of Justice uncover that Prince Andrew shared photographs of his daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, with Jeffrey Epstein in emails dated 2011 and 2012. These exchanges occurred well after Andrew had publicly stated he severed ties with Epstein following the financier’s 2008 conviction for procuring a child for prostitution. Epstein died in jail in 2019.
The images, part of a vast release of three million documents made public on Friday, depict the princesses during family moments and activities. At the time, Eugenie was 21 and 22 years old, while Beatrice was 23 and 24.
Details of the Festive Emails
The first email, sent from Andrew’s official account as HRH The Duke of York on December 21, 2011, featured a photo of Beatrice and Eugenie playing in the snow. Beatrice wore a silver Christmas cracker hat and earmuffs, while Eugenie sported a fur hat and brown scarf. The message conveyed seasonal greetings: “Wishing you much joy and happiness at this time and for the year ahead,” signed by Andrew.
A second email, dispatched on December 20, 2012, included snapshots from a charity bike ride and a mountain climbing expedition. One image showed Beatrice posing with a hand on her hip during her February 2012 ascent of Mont Blanc. Another captured Eugenie on a bicycle at a Night Rider event in London, equipped with high-visibility gear and a helmet.
Impact on the Royal Family
These disclosures may complicate the relationship between Andrew and his daughters, who have already distanced themselves from their father amid his exclusion from royal duties. Royal expert Jennie Bond stated on Sky News that the sisters are likely “hugely conflicted.” She noted, “Eugenie, particularly, who is a champion of the anti-slavery campaign, she’s finding things very, very difficult. Beatrice has been seen out riding with her father recently, so very difficult for both daughters. They must feel very conflicted in their loyalties. Trying times for the family.”
Additional Epstein Connections
Further documents highlight ongoing interactions between Andrew and Epstein. Shortly after Epstein completed house arrest following his conviction, Andrew invited him to dinner at Buckingham Palace, assuring “lots of privacy.” The prior month, Epstein proposed arranging a meeting for Andrew with a 26-year-old Russian woman described as “clever, beautiful and trustworthy.” Andrew responded that he would be “delighted to see her” and inquired if it felt “good to be free?”
Emails also show Andrew seeking approval from Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell to join his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and the children in Sotogrande, Spain. He wrote, “I am thinking now I might join Sarah and the kids in Sotogrande for a few days which would be very important and a good thing for the girls, rather than trek across the pond. Please will you give me permission to do so and I am conscious of the ‘better offer’ syndrome but in this case it wouldn’t be that… I think!”
New Photographic Evidence
Among the latest batch of materials are three photographs showing a man believed to be Andrew positioned over a woman lying face-up with arms outstretched. In one image, he gazes at the camera; in another, his hand rests on her stomach.
These revelations continue to surface as authorities process the extensive Epstein-related files, shedding light on the prince’s associations during that period.
