A trove of emails from the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, released by a congressional committee, includes communications with Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the former Duke of York. The messages, dated from 2011, reveal the former royal’s urgent attempts to publicly disassociate himself from Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, amid growing media scrutiny.
In one exchange, Mountbatten Windsor reacted to news that a British newspaper was preparing to publish a story featuring allegations from an accuser. Expressing distress, he insisted that any public statement or legal correspondence must unequivocally state he was “NOT involved” and knew “NOTHING” about the claims. He emphasized the personal toll, writing, “I can’t take any more of this.”
Epstein’s response dismissed the allegations as “complete and utter fantasy” and contained denials about other high-profile names. He suggested a statement for the press that attempted to refute the claims broadly.
The released emails emerge years after Mountbatten Windsor faced a civil lawsuit for sexual assault from Virginia Giuffre, who stated she was trafficked by Epstein. He has consistently denied all allegations.
The ongoing controversy ultimately led to a dramatic rupture with the monarchy. In 2022, he was required to step back from public duties. Later that year, following the posthumous publication of a memoir by Giuffre, the palace announced that the King had formally stripped his brother of his royal titles and styles. He is now referred to legally as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
Concurrently, he was served notice to vacate his residence at Royal Lodge and will relocate to private accommodation. A palace statement indicated these actions were deemed necessary despite the individual’s continued denial of the accusations against him.
