Prince Edward gives pointed response when asked about new Epstein allegations against brother Andrew
Prince Edward has spoken publicly for the first time about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the long running accusations against his brother, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
The comments come after the US Department of Justice released more than three million documents related to Epstein on Friday 30 January, weeks after the original deadline. The files include emails, photographs and correspondence linked to Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Prince Andrew, formerly the Duke of York, has been one of the most frequently named individuals in the material. He has repeatedly denied allegations that he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre when she was a teenager after she was trafficked by Epstein. In 2022, Andrew paid an undisclosed sum to settle a civil claim brought by Giuffre, without admitting wrongdoing.
New documents revive scrutiny
The latest document release includes multiple references to Andrew, including private emails allegedly sent from an account signed “HRH The Duke of York”. In one exchange, a meeting with a “beautiful” Russian woman is discussed. In another message, Andrew appears to tell Epstein, “Wish I was still a pet in your family.”
The files also contain a photograph of Andrew crouched on all fours over an unidentified woman whose face has been redacted. Authorities have stressed that being named or pictured in the documents does not in itself indicate criminal wrongdoing.
Last year, King Charles III stripped Andrew of his remaining royal roles and titles, following years of public pressure and controversy surrounding his association with Epstein.
Edward’s response and wider fallout
Prince Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh and the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, addressed the issue while attending the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday 3 February. When asked by a CNN journalist how he was coping following the document release, Edward appeared reluctant to engage.
“With the best will in the world, I’m not sure this is the audience that is the least bit interested in that,” he said, before adding that it was important to remember the victims. “I think it’s all really important, always, to remember the victims and who are the victims in all this.”
Edward’s remarks came just days after Andrew’s ex wife, Sarah Ferguson, announced that her charity, Sarah’s Trust, would close for the foreseeable future. The decision followed renewed attention on emails from 2009 in which Ferguson thanked Epstein for being “the brother I have always wished for”.
A spokesperson for the charity said the closure had been under discussion for months and emphasised the organisation’s humanitarian work, including aid during the Covid pandemic, support for Ukraine, and education projects in Ghana.
The renewed scrutiny shows how the Epstein scandal continues to ripple through public life, years after his death, with fresh revelations still reshaping reputations and institutions alike.
