Last week, Andrew reportedly vacated Royal Lodge in Windsor as pressure continued to mount. Buckingham Palace had previously announced in October that he would be leaving the property after more than two decades, alongside confirmation that his remaining royal titles and honours would be removed.
Andrew’s ties to Epstein have followed him for years. In his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, he claimed he had cut contact with Epstein in late 2010, following the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. However, emails that later emerged appeared to suggest contact between the two continued into early 2011.
Andrew has also faced allegations of sexual assault. Virginia Giuffre has alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein and made to have sex with Andrew on three occasions when she was 17. Andrew has consistently and strongly denied those claims.
Last month, following the release of further Epstein files, a second woman came forward with allegations. She claimed she was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew at Royal Lodge in 2010. Andrew has not publicly responded to these latest claims.
His representatives have declined to comment. Andrew continues to deny any wrongdoing related to Epstein. Being named or appearing in Epstein-related files does not, in itself, constitute evidence of criminal conduct.
