New information suggests that Prince Andrew maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein for five years longer than he previously claimed. A report indicates that in December 2015, Andrew provided Epstein with details about a potential business deal in China, contradicting his assertion that he had severed ties with the convicted sex offender in December 2010.
Emails reportedly leaked from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s account reveal that Andrew communicated with Epstein after claiming to have cut off all relations. In a widely publicized BBC interview in November 2019, Andrew stated he had not met or spoken to Epstein since visiting his Manhattan residence in December 2010. This visit was documented in photographs showing the two walking together in Central Park.
The emails have been reported by Reason and the Times of London. They indicate that Andrew remained in contact with Epstein even after multiple accusations emerged against the financier. In February 2011, Andrew allegedly wrote an email to Epstein stating, “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!” suggesting an ongoing relationship despite the growing scrutiny surrounding Epstein’s activities.
The timeline of Andrew’s correspondence with Epstein raises significant questions, particularly since it followed new lawsuits against Epstein and just one year after Andrew faced his own allegations of sexual abuse from Virginia Giuffre. The emails from December 2015 included discussions about the rising demand for private security among wealthy Chinese families, sparked by a series of kidnappings. Epstein’s email stated, “Wealthy chines [sic] looking for to start personel [sic] protection co in Beijing, kidnapping has begun,” and confirmed Andrew’s involvement when Barak inquired about the source of this information.
Adding to the controversy, Andrew had recently welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping during a state visit to the UK, having visited Beijing the previous year. His ventures, including the export of the investment initiative Pitch@Palace to China, were facilitated by Yang Tengbo, who has been accused of being a Chinese spy, allegations he denies.
The leaked emails surfaced following a hack of Barak’s inbox by a group known as Handala, which has reported ties to Iran. This breach was publicized by Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoS) in May.
Prince Andrew has faced increasing scrutiny due to his association with Epstein, resulting in the loss of his royal titles and military honors. In 2022, he reportedly settled a civil claim with Virginia Giuffre for an undisclosed sum, estimated to be around $16 million, without acknowledging any wrongdoing. Andrew has consistently denied any allegations of sexual abuse or involvement in sex trafficking.
Virginia Giuffre tragically died by suicide in April 2023 at her residence in Western Australia. In a recent development, Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking network, claimed that it was Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who encouraged the friendship between Andrew and Epstein. Maxwell dismissed the allegations against Andrew as “bulls–t,” suggesting they were fabricated for financial gain and to harm the Royal Family.
Neither Andrew nor Barak has publicly addressed these latest allegations. Barak has previously stated he had no knowledge of Epstein’s illicit activities or the trafficking of young women. Buckingham Palace has not responded to requests for comment regarding this ongoing controversy.
