Andrew’s relationship with convicted sex offender Epstein led to his downfall
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, has been stripped of his royal title over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
A newly released photo shows former British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in a precarious position.
New files released by the US Department of Justice in connection with the investigation into convicted sex offender and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein show former Prince Andrew on all fours over an unidentified woman lying on the ground.
In the latest photo, published on January 30 and shared online, Charles III’s brother bends over to touch the stomach of a clothed woman sitting on the floor. In the second photo, Andrew is on his hands and knees over the woman, whose face has been edited out.
The Justice Department did not provide additional information about the photos, including when or where they were taken. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged the release would include redactions while announcing the release of the files at a press conference at the department’s office in Washington, D.C., on January 30.
Emails among three million pages of newly released documents show that Andrew was in regular contact with disgraced financier Epstein for more than two years after he was convicted of sex crimes.
Mr. Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting a federal trial for sex trafficking, rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s richest and most powerful people, including former President Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump. Both men deny wrongdoing and have not been charged.
British Prime Minister asks Andrew to testify about Epstein
After the photos were released, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles in October, to comply with requests from US lawmakers to testify about his relationship with Epstein.
“Those who have information must be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do,” Starmer told reporters in response to questions about Andrew on January 31, adding: “If you’re not ready, you can’t be victim-centred.”
According to multiple media outlets, Mr Starmer said whether the former royal should apologize was “a matter for Mr Andrew”.
Andrew to be stripped of his royal title in October
Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles and evicted from his Royal Lodge home in October after his relationship with Epstein was reported, has appeared on multiple pages and images in files released by the U.S. government on Epstein since last fall. He was ousted from his position as senior royal three years ago.
Epstein’s most prominent accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, has claimed that she was sexually abused multiple times by the former royal when she was 17 years old.
In 2022, months before the publication of her memoir in October, Andrew made an undisclosed payment to settle a lawsuit filed in the United States by Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. Andrew, 65, has always denied Giuffre’s explanation.
In November 2025, several U.S. lawmakers stepped up their calls for Andrew to appear before a Congressional committee investigates Epstein. The disgraced investor died by suicide in 2019 while in custody awaiting trial.
Contributor: Josh Meyer, USA TODAY; Reuters
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com or X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
