A complex and controversial friendship that continues to cast a shadow over the royal family
Prince Andrew's long-standing association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has remained a source of public and legal scrutiny for years. What once appeared to be a social friendship has since unraveled into one of the royal family's most damaging scandals.
New details have surfaced about the depth of that relationship, including revelations that Ghislaine Maxwell—Epstein's former partner and convicted sex trafficker—reportedly asked Prince Andrew to contribute a personal message to Epstein's 50th birthday album in 2003. Maxwell, now serving a 20-year sentence in the U.S., allegedly curated the album to feature messages from Epstein's closest associates as a "who's who" of his inner circle.
The album allegedly included a message from Donald Trump, accompanied by a crude sketch, although Trump has denied its authenticity. Prince Andrew's contribution has not been publicly confirmed, but his presence in Epstein's social sphere during that period has been well documented.
Introduced to Epstein by Maxwell in 1999, the Duke of York is said to have visited Epstein at his residences in New York, Florida, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Epstein even attended Princess Beatrice's 18th birthday celebration at Windsor Castle—highlighting the level of access he once had within royal circles.
One of Epstein's most well-known accusers, Virginia Giuffre, alleged that Prince Andrew sexually abused her on multiple occasions when she was a minor—claims he has consistently denied. In response to the allegations, the prince famously claimed he could not have been sweating during one of the alleged encounters due to a medical condition—an assertion that became widely mocked.
In 2022, Prince Andrew settled a civil lawsuit brought by Giuffre for an undisclosed sum, without admitting any guilt. The settlement did little to clear his name, and the royal's reputation has remained tarnished ever since.
The U.S. Justice Department reportedly uncovered Epstein's birthday album during its investigation into his global network, reigniting questions about Prince Andrew's role in the financier's orbit.
With Epstein dead and Maxwell behind bars, the focus on Prince Andrew's past remains intense—casting a long, unresolved shadow over both his personal legacy and the broader royal institution.
