Prince Andrew 'hosted Jeffrey Epstein at Royal Lodge' amid Princess Beatrice's 18th birthday celebrations
Epstein attended a Windsor party in 2006
Prince Andrew is yet again facing renewed scrutiny as it’s been claimed that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell and disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein were hosted at Royal Lodge, the royal’s private Windsor residence, during Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday celebrations in 2006.
The trio are understood to have visited Royal Lodge, which sits within the grounds of Windsor Great Park, ahead of a formal masquerade ball held later that evening at Windsor Castle.
It came two months after a US arrest warrant had been issued for Epstein for the alleged sexual assault of a minor.
The new claims deepen the controversy surrounding Andrew’s long-scrutinised friendship with Epstein.
Prince Andrew ‘hosted’ Jeffrey Epstein at Royal Lodge
Previously, it had only been reported that Epstein, Maxwell, and Weinstein attended the party at Windsor Castle.
Now, new evidence from the BBC has matched background elements, such as patio walls and trees, from a photograph of the trio to other images of Royal Lodge, seemingly verifying their presence at Andrew’s residence before they attended the party at Windsor Castle.
Meanwhile, a witness told the BBC they remembered seeing Weinstein and Epstein at a drinks event in the back garden of Royal Lodge, before the main party.
In his now-infamous 2019 interview with BBC Newsnight, Andrew addressed why Epstein was invited to such a high-profile family event, despite his ongoing legal troubles in the United States.
“Certainly I wasn’t aware when the invitation was issued what was going on in the United States,” he said at the time. “I wasn’t aware until the media picked up on it. He never said anything about it.”
Epstein was arrested in Florida just eight days after the 2006 party in Windsor.
Andrew has faced intensified public backlash in recent weeks following the release of his accuser Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir.
In the book, Ms Giuffre, who previously sued the prince in a US civil case in 2021 accusing him of sexual assault, alleged she was made to have sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions after being trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew has always vehemently denied the allegations. In his Newsnight interview, he said he had no memory of ever meeting Ms Giuffre.
In early 2022, they reached an out-of-court settlement with Andrew paying an disclosed sum. The royal repeated that the settlement did not mean any liability or admission of guilt.
Prince Andrew latest
Earlier this month, Andrew announced he would stop using his “Duke of York” title amid public pressure.
As well as the allegations against him, it also emerged that Andrew may have lied about when he stopped contact with Epstein. In his Newsnight interview, Andrew said he hadn’t had contact with Epstein after December 2010.
However, an email allegedly sent from Andrew to Epstein in 2011 recently emerged. In it, Andrew reportedly told Epstein “we’ll play some more soon”.
Andrew’s living arrangements at Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion owned by the Crown Estate, have also come under question.
This is especially after reports claimed that he has paid only a “peppercorn rent” for over two decades. A peppercorn amounts to a small sum, potentially as low as £1.
I wasn’t aware until the media picked up on it. He never said anything about it.
Instead of traditional monthly or annual rent, Andrew reportedly paid £1million up front for his lease and more than £7.5m for renovations. However, the optics of remaining in such a lavish estate have become increasingly controversial.
Adelaide Cottage and Frogmore Cottage could reportedly become alternative homes for Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who also resides at Royal Lodge, if they have to vacate the residence.
Royal Insider has contacted reps for Buckingham Palace for comment.
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