A fresh cache of leaked emails has cast doubt on Prince Andrew’s longstanding claim that he severed all ties with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.

According to Daily Mail, recent emails unearthed from a file-sharing database appear to show that the Duke of York continued communications with Epstein well into 2015, suggesting a sustained relationship years after he insisted in a 2019 BBC interview that all contact ended in December 2010.

The controversy centers around email exchanges between Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. In one message from late 2015, Epstein implies that Prince Andrew was involved in discussions regarding a business venture in China. The nature of the venture reportedly involved personal protection services, and Epstein referenced “Andrew” as the source of his information. When Barak asked if he meant “The Prince,” Epstein confirmed with “yes.”

These messages appear to contradict Prince Andrew’s televised remarks during a 2019 interview with the BBC’s Newsnight program. In that interview, he maintained that his final interaction with Epstein occurred during a walk in Central Park in December 2010. He stated emphatically, “And to this day I never had any contact with him from that day forward.”

However, doubts surrounding that timeline are gaining traction following the recent discovery of additional correspondence. According to an email sent in February 2011 — two months after Prince Andrew claimed he broke ties — the royal wrote to Epstein expressing a desire to “keep in close touch.” This contradicts his public testimony and further muddies the timeline of events.

Uncovered Emails Challenge Public Narrative

Even more incriminating is a separate email sent by Prince Andrew just weeks after the alleged December 2010 break. In it, he wrote to Epstein, “We’ll play some more soon!!!!” The timing and tone of the message suggest that their friendship had not only continued, but remained amicable during a period Prince Andrew has claimed complete disassociation.

The emails in question were obtained by The Sunday Times from the Distributed Denial of Secrets website, a platform often used for public leaks. The newspaper reports that it verified the contact details in the messages independently, lending further credibility to the revelations. No official response has yet been made by representatives for Prince Andrew regarding the new evidence.

Jeffrey Epstein was a financier who was convicted in 2008 for sex offences and was awaiting trial for new federal sex trafficking charges when he died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019. His death and the abuse allegations surrounding him led to a widespread investigation into his social and political connections — including his controversial friendship with Prince Andrew.

Other Key Players Make Bold Statements

The email scandal comes amidst continued legal and public battles surrounding Epstein’s associates. In 2022, Prince Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most vocal accusers, who had filed a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault. Andrew agreed to pay a reported £12 million but denied all wrongdoing.

Tragically, Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, an event that has reignited scrutiny over the legal and emotional fallout surrounding Epstein’s long list of alleged victims. Her death further fuels ongoing debates about accountability and justice for victims of powerful perpetrators.

Meanwhile, Ghislaine Maxwell — Epstein’s longtime associate who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking — recently gave a two-day interview with U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Transcripts and audio recordings from the session were released by the Department of Justice.

Maxwell Denies Photos Legitimacy and Shifts Blame

In the course of the interview, Maxwell claimed that she believes the now-infamous 2001 photograph showing Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre is “literally a fake photo.” The photo has long been cited as a key piece of evidence in the case against Andrew. Despite widespread analysis, its authenticity has never been definitively disproven or upheld.

Maxwell went even further to assert that Andrew's former wife, Sarah Ferguson, was the one who encouraged the Duke’s involvement with Epstein, not her. She described the allegations against Andrew as “bull****” and said plainly, “he is innocent.” It remains unclear what impact, if any, these claims may have on Prince Andrew’s standing or legal exposure.

While her remarks clearly aim to exonerate Andrew, legal experts caution that Maxwell has a significant incentive to protect herself and allies through strategic statements. The motivations behind her defense of the Duke — as well as her reluctance to accept personal blame — are still subjects of scrutiny.

Lessons to Learn From This Tragedy

1. Be wary of appearances vs. actions: As this case demonstrates, public declarations do not always match private behavior. It is critical to examine evidence thoroughly before accepting public statements at face value.

2. Power can obscure accountability: Those in positions of privilege often have the means to suppress or manipulate the narrative around their conduct. This story reinforces the importance of investigative journalism and whistleblower transparency platforms like Distributed Denial of Secrets.

3. Victims deserve ongoing support: Virginia Giuffre’s death is a tragic reminder that legal settlements do not always provide emotional closure. We must continue to push for trauma-informed legal proceedings and mental health support for survivors of abuse — without ever blaming them for what occurred.

Why This Story Matters

The story of Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein continues to captivate the public not because of the royal scandal alone, but because it reflects deep flaws in our systems of power and accountability. The inconsistencies and misleading claims surrounding the timeline of their relationship highlight the dangers of unchecked privilege. Examining the facts carefully serves not just victims, but a society striving for truth and justice.

In conclusion, email exchanges and newly released interviews have challenged public claims made by Prince Andrew regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Despite asserting in 2019 that ties were severed in 2010, messages from as late as 2015 suggest otherwise. The findings come amid broader fallout from the Epstein case, including the death of accuser Virginia Giuffre, and provocative new statements by Ghislaine Maxwell. As public pressure increases, new questions are being raised about transparency, accountability, and justice — even at the highest levels of society.