19.02.2026 14:22
Former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was detained in England, was one of the most prominent figures in the investigations into sexual abuse and human trafficking involving American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein who died by suicide last year, alleged that she was forced to have sexual relations with Prince Andrew by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17 years old.
Former Prince Andrew, who was arrested in England on suspicion of abusing his public office, has close ties to billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead in prison while being prosecuted for establishing a network of sexual exploitation and prostitution of underage girls in the U.S.
ONE OF THE MOST DISCUSSED NAMES
The arrest of former Prince Andrew has shocked the world, while details emerging from the Epstein case reveal that the decision may not have been entirely wrong. Andrew's name has become one of the most prominent figures in the investigations into sexual exploitation and human trafficking involving U.S. billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. The information that has come to light can be summarized under the following headings:
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH EPSTEIN
Prince Andrew became acquainted with Jeffrey Epstein through social circles in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Photos and flight records indicating that he attended Epstein's home in New York, his private island (Little St. James), and various events have surfaced in the media. After Epstein was convicted of prostitution in 2008, Andrew's continued contact with him led to serious criticism in England. His appearance at Epstein's New York home in 2010 drew significant public backlash.
VIRGINIA GIUFFRE'S ALLEGATION
The most significant allegation directly targeting Andrew in the Epstein case came from Virginia Giuffre, who committed suicide last year. Giuffre claimed that she was forced into sexual relations with Prince Andrew by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17 years old. Andrew categorically denied the allegations. However, Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew in the U.S. in 2021.
BBC INTERVIEW AND CRISIS
Prince Andrew's "Newsnight" interview with the BBC in 2019 further escalated the crisis. In the interview, he described his relationship with Epstein as a "misjudgment," but the weak tone of regret and the failure of some of his statements to convince the public drew significant backlash. Following the interview, Andrew stepped back from royal duties.
LAWSUIT RESULTING IN COMPENSATION
In 2022, the lawsuit between Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre was resolved through an out-of-court settlement. The parties did not disclose the terms of the agreement, but it was reported that Andrew paid a significant amount in compensation. This settlement does not imply that Andrew admitted guilt; however, it led to a serious loss of reputation in the public eye.