Sipu Jha
An email uncovered in the recently released Epstein files has revealed Queen Elizabeth’s response to photos of her son, Prince Andrew, and the late Virginia Giuffre. A close aide to the prince who was stripped of his titles, told convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in an email that the prince had “full support” from the Queen but added that she felt his continued correspondence with Epstein was “unwise.“The mail was sent to the late financier by royal aide David Stern in March 2011 and conveyed that he believed Andrew still had his mother’s backing despite being linked to Epstein after his conviction.
At the time, Andrew was facing flak for his continued association with the billionaire after being photographed with him in New York’s Central Park in 2010, after his release from prison. Another photo released in February 2011 showed the former Duke of York with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, who later accused him of having intercourse with her.
The Royal Mail
Stern sent an email on March 9, 2011 reading: “Theme seems to be now: PA under scrutiny for dealing with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan (but government approved!), he has full support of his Mum, only dealing with you was ‘unwise’.”“The dealings to you are now predominately related F. and her financial trouble, always quoting her interview and her ‘lack of judgement’ and she will never deal with you again etc.”The mail is three months after Andrew claimed in a Newsnight interview that he flew to New York and stayed with Epstein to tell him in person that they had to end their friendship. He referred to the trip as the “honourable” thing to do. At the time of the mail, the prince whose ex-wife has also been mentioned in the files, was facing pressure to resign from his official business ambassador role. The content of the mail seems to be revealing the situations at the palace following the release of the photographs and publishing of multiple tabloids.Additionally, just days before Sarah Ferguson had publicly apologised for taking £15,000 from the sex offender to settle her own debts. The ‘F’ and ‘financial troubles’ could be a reference to this.Recently, a photograph of Andrew crouched on all fours on a woman has also been revealed in the files, confirming his involvement with Epstein that he has long denied. Also revealed are mails sent to Epstein by Ferguson who called him her “pillar” among other conversations also referring to the couples two daughters, Princess Euginie and Princess Beatrice.
Queen Elizabeth II and Epstein files
This marks the first time the late Queen’s response to her younger son’s associations with Epstein has been recorded. While she did authorise Andrew to step down as a working member of the Royal Family in 2019 after his Newsnight interview, she allowed him to be the Duke of York and keep his Prince title. Even when he was facing accusations, the late Queen chose Andrew to walk with her at a Remembrance Service at Westminster Abbey for her husband, Prince Philip, in 2022. It was King Charles III who removed his brother’s dukedom with a Royal Warrant and status of prince by a legal instrument called Letters Patent. Additionally, Andrew was evicted from his Royal Lodge home in Windsor as well.
Stern and Epstein exchanges
Many emails in the files reveal a long-standing camaraderie between the royal aide and Epstein. The financier once asked Stern for a favour including organising entertainment for his then-girlfriend’s trip to London. In April 2016, Epstein emailed Mr Stern to tell him he would “appreciate any help” he could give Karyna Shuliak and a friend, whose name is redacted, during their trip. “I will try but not sure it will work on such notice,” Mr Stern wrote in one email to Ms Shuliak, in which he also requested the women’s full names as they appeared on their passports.Back then, Stern was the director of Andrew’s ‘Pitch@Palace’ business network, which was registered at the palace.
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