The latest release of documents tied to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has brought to light a previously unseen image of Prince Andrew, Duke of York. The undated photograph depicts the former senior royal lying across the legs of five individuals, his eyes closed and a smile on his face, with his head positioned near a woman’s lap. Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend, is visible in the frame, peering down and smiling at Prince Andrew.

This particular image is a photograph of a picture held within a photo frame. Apart from Maxwell and Prince Andrew, the faces of the other five individuals in the image have been redacted. The photograph forms part of a massive trove of documents, including court records, footage, and images, that were uploaded to the US Department of Justice website on Friday. The release caused significant online traffic, leading to queues for users attempting to access the sensitive material.

Prince Andrew has faced intense scrutiny over his association with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in a federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The Duke was stripped of his royal titles and HRH style by King Charles III in November 2021 following the controversy. He has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing, stating previously that during his “limited time” with Epstein, he “did not see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction.”

The new files also feature other high-profile individuals, including former Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, who appears in several images, one seated on a sofa next to a redacted figure, and another smiling on a street. Multiple images of former President Bill Clinton lounging in a hot tub have surfaced, alongside pictures of Epstein with celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Richard Branson, Lord Peter Mandelson, and Mick Jagger. It is crucial to note that being featured in the Epstein files does not inherently suggest any wrongdoing on the part of those pictured.

This extensive data dump follows a legal obligation imposed by the US Department of Justice, which committed to releasing “several hundred thousand” documents from the “Epstein files” ahead of a recent deadline. The move aligns with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates the public disclosure of all files related to the investigation into the paedophile financier. Officials indicated that thousands more documents would be released in the coming weeks, citing the need to protect victims.

Despite the significant volume of material released, many photos and documents within the files are heavily redacted, drawing criticism from US lawmakers and lawyers representing Epstein’s victims. Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican instrumental in pushing for the disclosure law, expressed disappointment, stating that the release “grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law” signed just 30 days prior.

Prince Andrew previously settled a civil sexual assault claim with Virginia Giuffre in 2022 for millions of dollars. Ms. Giuffre alleged that she was sexually assaulted by the Duke after being trafficked by Epstein, claims Andrew has always denied, asserting he never met her. He stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after a widely criticized Newsnight interview regarding his friendship with Epstein.

The ongoing release of documents, including a previous batch from Epstein’s estate featuring Prince Andrew alongside Microsoft magnate Bill Gates, continues to fuel public interest and parliamentary scrutiny. US politicians have also criticized the Duke for his “silence” after he missed a deadline to respond to their request for an interview about his connections to Epstein, underscoring the enduring implications of this complex legal and social scandal.

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Keywords: Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein files, Ghislaine Maxwell, Royal family scandal, Sex trafficking documents, Bill Clinton Epstein, Virginia Giuffre, Epstein Files Transparency Act