Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer has called on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to testify about his links to convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of a huge tranche of documents and images from by the US Department of Justice.
An enormous batch of files were released on Friday: more than three million pages of documents – including email exchanges – and 180,000 images.
Amongst the newly-published material are images that appear to show Andrew with an unidentified woman, whose face has been redacted. The photographs are undated and were released without context, but research from the BBC’s verify team suggest that the decor seen is ‘consistent’ with that of Epstein’s New York home.
Emails in the tranche of material, apparently between Andrew and Epstein, include references to socialising together, and to invitations that would place Epstein at royal residences after his conviction in 2008.
The financier was convicted for soliciting sex from a 14-year-old in Florida, and then for sex trafficking in 2019, shortly before Andrew’s carcrash Newsnight interview. Epstein died in custody.
Speaking to reporters as he arrived in Japan, Sir Kier Starmer was asked if Andrew should apologise and testify to the congressional Epstein investigation.
The former head of the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service has said he approached the issue ‘with the victims of Epstein’s in mind’ and argued that anyone with relevant information should be willing to share it ‘in whatever form’ they are asked.
‘Whether there should be an apology, that’s a matter for Andrew,’ he added.
The release has additionally drawn further attention to Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. A line from a 2009 email reportedly says: ‘My dear spectacular and special friend Jeffrey. You are a legend, and I am so proud of you’. Another alleged email calls him ‘the brother I have always wished for’.
Epstein would have been under house arrest at the time of these emails.
It follows from an email leak in September 2025, when the former Duchess of York apparently apologised for publicly denouncing Epstein. A swathe of her charities then severed ties with Sarah.
Andrew’s position and prior legal case
It should be clarified that none of these emails or photos indicate illegal activity. Andrew has always maintained his innocence of any wrongdoing, claiming he did not ‘see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to [Epstein’s] arrest and conviction’.
In 2022, he settled a lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, who was pictured with him as a teenager, but the former Royal claims to have never met. Guiffre, who took her own life last year, settled a civil sexual assault claim with Andrew in 2022 for an undisclosed fee.
Marsh Farm, reputed to be the new residence for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew.
But all of this demonstrates that King Charles made the right decision for the institution of Monarchy last year, when he stripped his brother of all his titles, and evicted him from Royal Lodge.
This has created clear boundaries between the Royal Family, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a private individual, and lessens the strength of accusations of protection for Charles – though some think he acted too slowly.
Andrew is reportedly to move to Marsh Farm, two miles from Sandringham, later this year.
