The notorious 2001 photograph depicting Virginia Giuffre, then 17, with her arm around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) and Ghislaine Maxwell in the background has long been a focal point of controversy. Mountbatten-Windsor, in his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, questioned its authenticity, stating he had “no recollection” of it being taken and suggesting it might have been doctored. He has consistently denied meeting Giuffre or any wrongdoing.
However, a newly surfaced document from Jeffrey Epstein’s emails, released in late 2025 as part of additional Epstein estate files by US congressional committees, provides undeniable credibility to the image. In a 2011 email, Epstein explicitly confirmed the photo’s existence, writing: “Yes she [Giuffre] was on my plane and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew.” This statement, allegedly from Epstein himself—who is believed to have taken the photograph—directly contradicts Mountbatten-Windsor’s claims of manipulation or non-existence.
Further supporting authenticity, a recently published uncropped version of the photo, featured in Giuffre’s posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl (released October 2025), reveals a mysterious thumb in the corner, suggesting a fourth person held the camera—consistent with accounts that Epstein snapped the shot.
These revelations come amid ongoing scrutiny of Mountbatten-Windsor’s Epstein ties, following Giuffre’s tragic suicide in April 2025 and further document releases. While Mountbatten-Windsor settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability, this email evidence strengthens the photograph’s role as key corroboration of her allegations. It underscores the enduring impact of the Epstein scandal on public figures and victims’ pursuit of justice.
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