Prince Andrew, Duke of York, met Jeffrey Epstein through Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 1990s and maintained a social relationship that lasted roughly two decades. The friendship gave Andrew access to Epstein’s extraordinary social network, private properties, and travel resources.
The Relationship
Andrew and Epstein were photographed together at social events throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Andrew stayed at Epstein’s New York mansion in 2010 — after Epstein had already been convicted and registered as a sex offender in Florida. That visit, widely photographed in Central Park, proved politically devastating when it became public.
Virginia Giuffre’s Allegations
Virginia Roberts Giuffre alleged that she was trafficked to Prince Andrew for sex on three occasions: in London, New York, and on Little Saint James Island. She placed the first encounter at around age 17, in 2001. A famous photograph — later disputed by Andrew — appeared to show him with his arm around Giuffre at Maxwell’s London townhouse.
The Newsnight Interview
In November 2019, Andrew gave a BBC Newsnight interview attempting to address the allegations. He claimed he had no recollection of meeting Giuffre, questioned the photograph’s authenticity, and described himself as unable to sweat — contradicting Giuffre’s account that he was sweating during their encounter. The interview was widely mocked and regarded as catastrophically damaging to his reputation.
Civil Lawsuit and Settlement
In August 2021, Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew in New York federal court, alleging sexual abuse when she was a minor. Andrew’s legal team sought dismissal, arguing a 2009 settlement agreement between Giuffre and Epstein released unnamed third parties from liability.
In February 2022, Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled the case could proceed. Days later, Andrew settled out of court for an undisclosed sum — widely reported as approximately £12 million (around $15 million). Andrew made no admission of wrongdoing but agreed to make a substantial donation to Giuffre’s charity supporting trafficking victims.
Aftermath
Following the settlement, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages by King Charles. He stepped back from all public duties. No criminal charges were filed against him in the UK despite calls for investigation.