Prince Andrew faces mounting pressure to assist American officials investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes following the emergence of an email in which the Duke referred to himself as wanting to be the paedophile’s ‘pet’.
The correspondence, sent in August 2010 and reported by The Times, appears to reference an unspecified business arrangement in London between the former prince and the disgraced financier. The revelation forms part of the latest disclosures released by the US Department of Justice.
Sources have indicated that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is under increasing pressure to cooperate with investigators examining Epstein’s criminal network and those connected to him. The publication of further documents has added to the scrutiny surrounding the royal’s association with the convicted sex offender.
Prince Edward became the first member of the Royal Family to publicly address the ongoing Epstein scandal when questioned at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. The Duke of Edinburgh was asked how he was coping with the release of new files relating to the paedophile.
Edward responded by stating it was “really important always to remember the victims” of Epstein’s crimes. His comments mark a departure from the Royal Family’s typical silence on matters relating to Andrew’s connections to the financier.
The scandal has extended beyond the royal sphere, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer informing his Cabinet that Lord Peter Mandelson “let his country down” in relation to the affair. The Cabinet Office has called in police to investigate allegations that the peer leaked UK secrets to Epstein.
The August 2010 email represents one of numerous communications between Andrew and Epstein that have come to light through legal proceedings and document releases. The timing of the correspondence places it after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor but before his 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.
American authorities continue to investigate individuals connected to Epstein’s criminal enterprise, with prosecutors seeking information from those who maintained relationships with him following his initial conviction. Andrew’s willingness to assist with these inquiries remains a subject of ongoing discussion between US officials and representatives.
The Duke stepped back from royal duties in 2019 following a controversial BBC interview about his friendship with Epstein. He was subsequently stripped of his military titles and royal patronages in 2022.
Further document releases from US legal proceedings are expected in coming weeks, potentially revealing additional correspondence and details about Epstein’s network of associates.
