The photo of Andrew and Ms Giuffre (Image: X)
The photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Virginia Giuffre is “real”, Ghislaine Maxwell has claimed. The infamous photo, said to be taken inside the Mayfair home of disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, shows Prince Andrew with his arms around 17-year-old Giuffre.
For years Andrew has denied any wrongdoing, during his 2019 BBC NewsNight interview he claimed that his hand around Ms Giuffre’s waist could have been forged and alleged he did not remember meeting her. During the disastrous interview he told Emily Maitlis: “I can tell you categorically I don’t remember meeting her at all. I do not remember a photograph being taken.” He also doubted the legitimacy of the picture and used the location and his outfit to cast further doubt.
Andrew told Maitlis: “You can’t prove whether or not that photograph is fake because it’s a photograph of a photograph of a photograph. It’s very difficult to be able to prove it, but I don’t remember that photograph being taken.”
He added that: “We can’t be certain as to whether or not that’s my hand on her, whatever it is left…left side.”
However, an email that surfaced today from Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking, states that she was “putting on the record as fact” that she not only introduced the former prince to Giuffre, but that the photograph was taken later that same night at her London home.
The admission, uncovered by the Daily Mail, represents a significant setback for Andrew, and his notorious Pizza Express alibi.
One of the stranger parts of his Newsnight interview was when the disgraced prince said he could not have had sex with Giuffre in London on March 10 2001 as alleged, because he had taken his daughter to a birthday party at the Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey.
Asked by Ms Maitlis on the day in question with Ms Giuffre – Andrew declared: “I’ve no recollection of ever meeting her.”
Drafting a statement to push back against escalating press allegations, disgraced socialite Maxwell sought Epstein’s approval in an email.
“In 2001 I was in London when (redacted) met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew,” she wrote. “A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family.
“I never asked (redacted) to give him a massage,” her draft statement added.
In the body of the email, she stated, “I am stating for the record as fact,” before adding: “Prince Andrew came to my house to visit me – (redacted) was in the house and they did meet.”
She nevertheless claimed she had “no knowledge” of Ms Giuffre “having sexual activity” with Andrew or any other “famous people.”
Epstein replied saying her statement left “too many unanswered questions” adding: “Her and andrew?…whats the deal here? why is she there.”
Maxwell insisted she required the statement “asap” and that she was advised to say “I was not aware of massage w/andrew in my house”
“These thing they have to stay, along w/meeting virginia and rebutting those allegations. I needs it asap.”
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