An email believed to have been sent by Ghislaine Maxwell appears to confirm that a photograph of Virginia Giuffre with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor around her waist is genuine.
A message released as part of the latest installment of the Epstein files, titled “Draft Statement,” was sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2015 by “G Maxwell.”
She wrote: “In 2001 when I was in London [redacted] Met my friends including Prince Andrew. The photo was taken as I envisioned showing it to her friends and family.
Giuffre, who took her own life in April 2025, alleged that Mountbatten-Windsor had sex with her three times when she was a teenager.
The former prince has denied any wrongdoing. He paid Giuffre, a woman, millions to settle a civil sexual harassment lawsuit in 2022 for which he claimed no liability. He had previously questioned whether the film was doctored.
In an email released by the US Department of Justice, “G Maxwell” adds that she was not aware of “anything improper” going on at her home.
The name of the person discussed in the email has been redacted from the published version of the statement, but details indicate it was Giuffre.
Giuffre’s family told the BBC’s Newsnight the email showed she had been “vindicated”.
Her brother, Skye Roberts, said: “It really vindicates Virginia … she didn’t lie at this point.” He added: “It’s a really proud moment for our sister.”
In a 2019 interview with Newsnight, Mountbatten-Windsor denied meeting Giuffre and suggested the photograph may have been faked. At the time he said: “Nobody can prove that the photo was doctored, but I don’t remember the photo being taken.”
In the interview he claimed he was at Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey, the night he was photographed with Giuffre.
In December, the Metropolitan Police decided after a review not to launch a full criminal investigation into allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor had sex with Giuffre in London in 2001, and Andrew pressed his police protection officer to find any incriminating information on her.
Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.
