Background
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, is the central figure in a newly released set of documents from the Justice Department’s third release of Jeffrey Epstein files. The documents were made public on Tuesday and include an email exchange from August 2001.
The email exchange involves Mountbatten-Windsor and Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex-trafficker serving a 20-year sentence. It shows the Duke of York asking Maxwell to set him up with new friends.
The email begins with a message from an address labeled “The Invisible Man.” The sender is not identified in the records, but states that they are at “Balmoral Summer Camp,” likely a reference to Balmoral Castle.
The sender signs the email as “A.” Mountbatten-Windsor did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent by NBC News to an email address associated with the Duke of York’s Office.
Buckingham Palace also did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The email’s tone is informal and seeks companionship for a short vacation period.
The message reads: “Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?” The Duke also says, “Let me know when you are coming over as I am free from 25th August until 2nd Sept and want to go somewhere hot and sunny with some fun people before having to put my nose firmly to the grindstone for the Fall.”
The email continues with, “Any ideas gratefully received!” He signs off with, “See ya A xxx.”
Maxwell replied a few hours later, according to the records. Her reply states, “So sorry to dissapoint you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends,” she said.
She adds, “Will let you know about some church meetings on those dates. Kisses Gx.” The reply shows a different tone, offering church meetings instead of the requested friends.
The original sender replies to the message two days later, writing “Distraught!” He says, “You probably wouldn’t know but I lost my valet on Thursday. He died in his sleep. He had been with me since I was 2.”
The Email Exchange
The sender continues, “I am a little off balance as not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN and now my whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me.” He describes the loss of a personal support figure, calling him a real rock and almost a part of the family.
The abbreviation “RN” refers to the Royal Navy. Mountbatten-Windsor retired from the Royal Navy in July 2001, about a month before the email exchange occurred.
The email exchange is dated August 2001, shortly after his retirement. The documents were released by the Justice Department as part of the third release of the Epstein files.
The Duke of York’s request for new friends reflects a personal desire for social contact during a vacation period. The email’s informal style is consistent with other private correspondences in the files.
Maxwell’s reply indicates a shift toward more conventional social arrangements. She offers church meetings rather than the requested inappropriate friends.
The email exchange demonstrates the Duke’s ongoing connection to Maxwell. It also illustrates the personal context in which their relationship developed.
The documents were made public on Tuesday, a day after the Justice Department released the third batch of Epstein files. The exchange is one of the few pieces of evidence linking the Duke to Maxwell.
The email exchange does not contain any explicit wrongdoing. The Justice Department has stated that nothing in the released Epstein files warrants investigation or prosecution of any third parties.
The department’s statement is included in the release accompanying the documents. It clarifies that no new charges are expected based on the email exchange.
The exchange highlights the Duke’s personal life during a period of transition. It provides insight into his private communications with Maxwell.
Legal and Royal Context
Mountbatten-Windsor’s ties to Epstein and Maxwell have been a subject of scrutiny for years. He has faced accusations of sexual assault from Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
In 2022, Mountbatten-Windsor settled a civil suit with Giuffre, who alleged he had sexually assaulted her when she was 17. The settlement did not include an admission of wrongdoing.
Giuffre’s settlement acknowledged her suffering as a victim of sex trafficking. She also denied that a widely circulated photograph of her with the Duke was real.
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing in his association with Epstein and Maxwell. He has never been criminally charged.
King Charles stripped Mountbatten-Windsor of his royal titles in November, following the publication of Giuffre’s memoir. The decision was made in the weeks after the memoir’s release.
The memoir, published in October, detailed Giuffre’s allegations of sexual abuse. It included claims that she had sex with the Duke on three occasions, including an “orgy” involving “eight other young girls” who “appeared to be under the age of 18 and didn’t really speak English.”
Giuffre died by suicide in April. Her posthumous memoir was released in October, providing further allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor.
Following the memoir, King Charles forced Mountbatten-Windsor to move out of his home at the Royal Lodge, close to Windsor Castle. The Duke’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, retained their titles.
The Justice Department’s statement that nothing in the files warrants investigation is a key point in the legal context. It clarifies that no new charges are expected based on the email.
The legal and royal repercussions of Mountbatten-Windsor’s actions have been significant. They illustrate the impact of his association with Epstein and Maxwell on his public standing.
Takeaways
The email exchange shows a personal request for companionship from Mountbatten-Windsor to Maxwell. It also reflects the Duke’s emotional state after leaving the Royal Navy.
The documents were part of the Justice Department’s third release of Epstein files. They provide a glimpse into the private communications of high-profile figures.
The Justice Department’s statement that nothing warrants investigation underscores the lack of criminal evidence in the email. This statement is repeated in the release accompanying the documents.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s legal and royal status has been altered by his ties to Epstein and Maxwell. He lost his titles and was forced to relocate.
Giuffre’s allegations and subsequent memoir contributed to the royal decision. Her death by suicide added a tragic dimension to the narrative.
The email exchange is one of the few pieces of evidence linking the Duke to Maxwell. It does not contain any explicit wrongdoing.
The Duke’s retirement from the Royal Navy in July 2001 set the stage for the August email exchange. The timing is noted in the documents.
The exchange also illustrates the personal context in which their relationship developed. It shows Maxwell’s willingness to offer alternative social arrangements.
The email exchange is a small but significant part of the larger story about Epstein, Maxwell, and Mountbatten-Windsor. It highlights the personal dynamics that underlie public scrutiny.
In summary, the documents reveal a casual conversation between the Duke and Maxwell, but they do not implicate either party in criminal activity. The Justice Department’s release confirms that no investigation is warranted based on the email.
