Newly released emails show that the former Duke of York told Jeffrey Epstein “it would be good to catch up in person” just months after the convicted sex offender was released from prison. This comes two days after Andrew Mountbatten Windsor lost his royal titles and was removed from the official peerage list, as Buckingham Palace tried to limit the damage from his growing scandals.
Epstein was imprisoned in July 2009 for soliciting prostitution from a minor. In emails made public on Friday, the disgraced financier suggested on April 15, 2010, that Andrew meet Jes Staley, a former JP Morgan executive. Staley was later banned for life from the UK banking sector in June for misleading regulators about his ties to Epstein.
Andrew replied that he wouldn’t be in the UK but would “make sure I meet [Staley] soon on another trip.” He added, “Also, I have no immediate plans to drop by New York, but I think I should at some stage soon. I’ll look and see if I can make a couple of days before the summer. It would be good to catch up in person.”
Later that year, in December, the two were photographed together in New York’s Central Park—a meeting Andrew later called a “wrong decision.” During his troubled 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, he claimed the visit’s “sole purpose” was to end contact with Epstein, saying he felt breaking the news in person was better than doing it “over the telephone, which was the chicken’s way of doing it.” Despite this, he stayed at Epstein’s New York mansion for several days.
Andrew stated that the conversation ended with both agreeing to cut ties, which he insisted he honored. However, court documents released in January revealed that a “member of the British royal family,” believed to be Andrew, emailed Epstein saying, “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!”
The emails were unsealed on Friday as part of a 2023 legal case between the US Virgin Islands and JP Morgan. The territory’s government, where Epstein owned a private island and managed most of his finances, sued the bank over its alleged dealings with him. JP Morgan denied the claims, stating it was unaware of Epstein’s activities, and settled the case without admitting fault.
The documents also show that JP Morgan alerted the US government to over $1 billion in transactions linked to Epstein that might have been connected to human trafficking reports.
Buckingham Palace faced increasing pressure to take stronger action against Andrew following the posthumous release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir and details about his rent-free living arrangements at Royal Lodge. Giuffre, who died by suicide in April at age 41, had repeated her allegations against the former duke.In her memoir published last month, she claims she was forced into sexual encounters with Mountbatten Windsor three times—once when she was 17 and again during an orgy after being trafficked by Epstein. Mountbatten Windsor strongly denies these accusations.
On Friday, it was disclosed that Mountbatten Windsor is set to receive a substantial lump sum and an annual allowance. This financial arrangement aims to prevent overspending as he transitions to life as a private citizen, following discussions about his future after leaving Royal Lodge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the emails concerning Andrew Duke of York and Jeffrey Epstein written in a clear and natural tone
General Factual Questions
1 What is this story about
This refers to a 2011 email exchange that was later made public where Prince Andrews team discussed the Dukes desire to meet with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein had been released from prison for sex crimes
2 Who is Andrew in this context
Andrew refers to Prince Andrew the Duke of York a member of the British royal family
3 Who was Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein was a wealthy American financier who was a convicted sex offender He was charged with sex trafficking of minors and died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial
4 So did Prince Andrew actually meet with Epstein after he was released from prison
Yes he did Despite the controversy Prince Andrew was photographed meeting with Epstein in New Yorks Central Park in 2010 after Epsteins release
5 Why is this email significant
The email is significant because it shows that Andrew actively sought a meeting with a known sex offender which raised serious questions about his judgment and his association with Epstein
Deeper Questions Context
6 What was Prince Andrews connection to Epstein in the first place
Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein were friends and had moved in the same social circles for years Andrew had stayed at Epsteins homes on multiple occasions
7 What reason did Prince Andrew give for staying in contact with Epstein
Prince Andrew stated that he did not witness any suspicious behavior during his visits and that he ended the friendship in 2010 He has publicly expressed regret for his association with Epstein calling it a mistake and an error of judgment
8 What were the legal consequences for Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew was not charged with any crime in the US However he faced a civil lawsuit from Virginia Giuffre who accused him of sexual assault The case was settled out of court in 2022 with no admission of liability from Andrew
9 How did this affect his royal duties
The controversy and the resulting public outcry severely damaged his reputation In 2019 he stepped back from all public duties for the foreseeable future In 2022 following the settlement of
