A recently disclosed email has revealed direct communication between a senior British royal and the convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein, sent the day after a controversial photograph linking the two men was made public.
The message, dated February 28, 2011, was reportedly sent from the Duke of York to Epstein. In it, the royal wrote, “It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it,” and advised the financier to “keep in touch.” The email concluded with the Duke’s formal signature, including his title and a reference to his knighthood.
This correspondence emerged following the publication of a photograph showing the Duke with his arm around a then-teenage Virginia Giuffre, with Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, also visible in the image. In the email, the Duke expressed concern for Epstein, stating, “Don’t worry about me!” and added, “We’ll play some more soon,” suggesting an intention to resume contact after media scrutiny subsided.
Giuffre, who was 17 at the time of the alleged encounters, later brought a civil lawsuit against the Duke in 2021. She claimed she was trafficked to him on multiple occasions. In personal diary entries made public before her death, Giuffre provided detailed accounts of the alleged meetings, describing specific interactions and compliments she received.
The Duke has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing. The civil case was resolved with an out-of-court settlement in 2022, which included a financial payment to Giuffre, the terms of which were not disclosed.
