Freshly released emails from the US Department of Justice have once again thrust Prince Andrew into the spotlight, offering further insight into his close and controversial relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The disclosures, filled with revealing language and striking details, undermine the Duke of York’s repeated claims that he severed ties with Epstein in 2010 and instead suggest a relationship that persisted well beyond that point.
In one particularly telling email from February 2011, Prince Andrew wrote to Epstein: “This week is all about me,” a brief but telling line that critics say reflects a striking lack of self-awareness. In the same message, Andrew added that it was “time to put something back into me before the rest of the world starts sucking it out in all their greed and demands,” a remark that has drawn widespread condemnation for its tone and timing.
At the time, Andrew appeared to be in high spirits, thanking Epstein for his assistance in resolving a financial issue involving unpaid wages linked to his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York. He also mentioned that he was about to begin his “annual retreat for the next eight days.” The timing of the email is significant, as it directly contradicts Andrew’s previous public assurances that he had ended all contact with Epstein the year before.
The latest disclosures have prompted renewed public frustration and fatigue, with many observers reacting with disbelief at yet another series of unflattering revelations. Newly surfaced photographs show Andrew in awkward and undignified poses, images that critics say mirror the current state of his reputation.
Beyond the personal embarrassment, the emails also reveal sustained efforts by US authorities to secure Andrew’s cooperation in investigations related to Epstein. In early 2020, officials from the US Department of Justice repeatedly contacted Andrew’s legal team, pressing him to honour his public commitment to assist with inquiries into Epstein’s activities.
“Please advise as to whether Prince Andrew will agree to be interviewed and, if so, when such interview will take place,” investigators wrote in February 2020, in one of several increasingly pointed exchanges. Despite public statements suggesting willingness to cooperate, a combination of legal manoeuvring and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic meant that no such interview ever took place.
Although Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing, pressure from the United States has not fully subsided. As recently as last year, Democratic lawmakers in Congress renewed calls for his testimony. Andrew’s representatives have been contacted for comment and maintain his long-standing position of denial.
Over the weekend, Andrew was photographed driving and horse-riding in Windsor, images that appeared in MailOnline and further fuelled public debate over his apparent calm amid renewed scrutiny.
The emails also reference Buckingham Palace, which appears to have been used on occasion as a private venue where Andrew entertained Epstein. While the palace as an institution is not accused of wrongdoing, the revelations underscore the extent of Andrew’s privileged access and sense of entitlement during that period.
Royal watchers note that the monarchy may be quietly relieved that decisive action was taken last autumn, when Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages. That move pre-empted what would likely have been renewed and intensified calls for action following these latest disclosures.
The correspondence further demonstrates the closeness between Andrew and Epstein, including contact on Christmas Day in 2010. Andrew even sent Epstein a family-style Christmas message featuring photographs of his daughters and images of himself abseiling down London’s Shard.
This stands in stark contrast to Andrew’s claim during his infamous Newsnight interview that he travelled to New York in December 2010 solely to end his relationship with Epstein “formally and unequivocally.” Emails sent after that trip tell a different story. “It was great to spend time with my US family. Looking forward to joining you all again soon,” Andrew wrote to Epstein, adding that he would call the following day while moving his family to Sandringham.
The disclosed emails also touch on two especially sensitive areas for the royal family: sex and money. In July 2010, Epstein appeared to be discussing potential business opportunities, boasting of wealthy contacts “super flush with cash” and eager to make deals. Andrew’s replies reference possible government purchases worth billions of pounds and investment arrangements through third parties.
Although the full context of these exchanges remains unclear, they offer fragmentary glimpses into a world of influence, wealth and connections spanning China, the Gulf and Libya. Epstein even appears to have introduced Andrew to a young woman described as “26, Russian, clever, beautiful, trustworthy.”
Taken together, the emails deepen questions about Prince Andrew’s judgment, credibility and transparency, ensuring that the controversy surrounding his association with Jeffrey Epstein remains far from over.
