Prince Edward has addressed recent disclosures regarding pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein’s connections with senior members of the British Royal Family.
The Department of Justice released new details about King Charles’ brother, now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor after losing his royal titles, on Friday, January 30.
The release included numerous emails highlighting Andrew’s close association with Epstein post his 2008 conviction, alongside troubling images of the former Duke of York with a young female.
As Andrew’s actions continue to affect the British royals’ reputation, Prince Edward, now the Duke of York, made a rare public statement on the matter when CNN’s Eleni Giokos asked about his ‘coping’ at a Dubai policy forum.
Initially, Prince Edward dismissed the question, stating, “Well, with the best will in the world, I’m not sure this is the audience that is probably the least bit interested in that. They all came here to listen to education, solving the future.”
However, considering the numerous victims who have accused Epstein of trafficking and the systematic abuse of children revealed in the Epstein files, the prince elaborated further.
He stated: “But no, I think it’s all really important always to remember the victims, and who are the victims in all this, a lot of victims in all this.”
These remarks from a Royal Family member come at a critical moment, as several prominent figures were found to have maintained ties with Epstein post his child sex offences conviction.
This includes then-Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, whose 2024 appointment as the UK’s Ambassador to the US is under scrutiny after it was revealed he shared government documents with Epstein during the 2008 financial crisis.
The scandal has extended beyond Andrew, as his former wife Sarah Ferguson was also revealed to have been close to Epstein, whom she referred to as her ‘pillar’.
A 2009 email from the former Duchess of York to Epstein reads: “I have never been more touched by a friends kindness than your compliment to me in front of my girls. Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for.”
In another message, she congratulates Epstein on the birth of a ‘baby boy’, despite there being no public record of Epstein having children.
Their children are mentioned in the files, with Ferguson reportedly arranging for Princess Eugenie and Beatrice to visit Epstein shortly after his release from prison for soliciting child prostitution in July 2009.
In an email to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein notes ‘ferg and the two girls come [sic] yesterday,’ following Ferguson’s email: “What address shall we come to. It will be myself, Beatrice and Eugenie. Are we having lunch?”
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.