Three days after the US Department of Justice released what it says are the final documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein, one image continues to dominate headlines. A newly released photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has reignited international scrutiny, even as it becomes clear he is not the only royal name appearing in the files.
The release followed the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, approved by Congress in November. According to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, the publication marked the conclusion of a lengthy review process designed to ensure transparency. Still, several House Democrats dispute that claim, arguing that a significant portion of the material has yet to be made public.
The dataset is vast. It includes flight logs, emails, identification records, employment documents, more than 180,000 images, and over 2,000 videos. Among the names referenced are politicians, financiers, celebrities, and multiple members of European royal families. Being mentioned does not automatically imply wrongdoing, but the volume and nature of the material have renewed public debate.
Prince Andrew and the documents that deepen the controversy
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appears repeatedly throughout the files. Long before this latest release, he denied allegations connected to Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex crimes.
Virginia Giuffre accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her multiple times when she was a minor after being trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The British monarchy later reached a financial settlement with Giuffre in 2022. Following the posthumous release of her memoir last year, King Charles III stripped Andrew of his remaining royal titles and ordered him to vacate Royal Lodge.
Among the newly released materials is an undated photograph showing Andrew crouched over an unidentified woman, touching her abdomen. Additional emails include exchanges between Epstein and a sender identifying themselves as HRH The Duke of York. In one, Andrew discusses meeting a beautiful Russian woman. In another, he invites Epstein to Buckingham Palace in 2010, two years after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting a minor.