Former Prince Andrew in touch with Epstein longer than he claimed, DoJ emails show

The former Prince Andrew remained in touch with Jeffrey Epstein long after he had previously claimed to have broken off contact and suggests he had met after his conviction for underage prostitution more often than previously admitted, according to emails published by the US Department of Justice.

The former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, claimed in a BBC television interview in 2019 that he had broken off all contact after a meeting in December 2010 when he had severed ties. He said this was also the only time they had met in person after the disgraced financier’s 2008 conviction on charges of underage prostitution.

However, the files, part of a tranche of 3mn pages released by the DoJ on Friday, show that Mountbatten-Windsor emailed Epstein in March 2011, writing: “Call me please”.

Other emails between the two men show that Epstein wrote in August 2010 to someone appearing to be Mountbatten-Windsor saying he had “a friend”, a 26-year-old identified only as “Irina”, with whom he thought the former prince would enjoy “having dinner”.

The exchange came shortly after Epstein’s release from house arrest following his imprisonment for charges of procuring an underage girl for prostitution. The person signing himself as the Duke of York — Mountbatten-Windsor’s then title — wrote to him: “How are you? Good to be free?”

The evidence suggesting that the pair had met more than once after Epstein’s conviction comes from September 2010.

The files show that Epstein wrote to Mountbatten-Windsor during a visit to London, suggesting he come over to Buckingham Palace with some women. Mountbatten-Windsor replied “what time and how many?” — although it is not clear whether they actually met.

Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein.