Jeffrey Epstein 'assistant sat on late queen's throne' at Buckingham Palace after 'meeting Prince Andrew'
More allegations have emerged in new files releasedOne of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged “assistants” claimed she met Prince Andrew and sat on Queen Elizabeth II’s “throne” at Buckingham Palace, according to new files.
The Duke of York’s association with Epstein has made headlines for many years. Prince Andrew, 65, stepped back from royal duties in 2019 after his ties with the convicted sex offender came under scrutiny.
The duke’s disastrous interview with BBC’s Newsnight in late 2019 was dubbed a “car crash” in the media. During the interview, Andrew said it was a “stretch” to say he and Epstein were “close friends”. He also addressed allegations of sexual assault against him, which he has always denied.
Now, Prince Andrew is back in the headlines once again following the release of a redacted copy of an alleged “birthday book” reportedly given to Epstein in 2003 to celebrate his 50th.
Jeffrey Epstein ‘birthday book’
The so-called “birthday book” was released by the House of Representatives Oversight Committee among other documents. These included Epstein’s will and his personal address book.
Epstein died by suicide in prison in August 2019.
His estate was forced to hand over the documents as part of the committee’s investigation into his and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking ring.
The 238-page book reportedly contained messages and photos sent by Epstein’s friends. It included one alleged note from US President Donald Trump. However, the White House has denied that the letter is authentic.
According to reports, the book was compiled by Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday. It was given to him in 2003, a few years before his crimes became publicly known.
One unidentified woman claimed in the book that “before Jeffrey” she was a 22-year-old divorced restaurant hostess.
But, she wrote that “after Jeffrey” she travelled the world and met celebrities including “Prince Andrew, President Clinton, Sultan of Brunei, Donald Trump”.
Epstein ‘assistant’ claimed she ‘sat on Queen Elizabeth’s throne’
In the typed note, she also claimed to have “seen the private quarters of Buckingham Palace”. She also alleged she “sat on the Queen of England‘s throne”.
The note was filed under the section of the book titled “Assistants”.
In 1999, Prince Andrew was first introduced to Epstein, an investment banker and financier at the time, by Maxwell.
It was definitely the wrong thing to do.
In his 2019 interview with Newsnight, the royal explained he did stay at a number of Epstein’s residences.
Andrew said: “It was a convenient place to stay. I mean you have to understand that his house. I described it more as almost as a railway station if you know what I mean in the sense that there were people coming in and out of that house all the time.”
The duke added: “At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction.”
Royal Insider has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
‘It was definitely the wrong thing to do’
In late 2010, Andrew was photographed visiting Epstein. However, it came after Epstein’s 2008 conviction of two state prostitution charges.
Addressing the meeting, Prince Andrew told Newsnight: “I went there with the sole purpose of saying to him that because he had been convicted, it was inappropriate for us to be seen together.
Read more: Prince Andrew’s accuser Virginia Giuffre’s memoir Nobody’s Girl to be published after her death
“At the end of the day, with the benefit of all the hindsight that one could have, it was definitely the wrong thing to do. But at the time I felt it was the honourable and right thing to do.”
A couple of years after the Newsnight interview, the prince faced a US civil lawsuit filed by his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.
Giuffre, an alleged victim of Epstein’s trafficking ring, accused the royal of sexual assault.
The duke has always denied the allegations against him. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum in February 2022.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, contact The Samaritans on 116 123. They are available for free at any time.
What do you think of this story? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page to let us know.
