Buckingham Palace drawn into Epstein row by Ghislaine Maxwell lawyers

Six bombshells from second batch of Epstein files released

The second batch of Jeffrey Epstein files were released overnight and contain further bombshell allegations.

1. Bill Clinton 'threatened Vanity Fair' - denied by magazine

2. Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer used Palace defence of Andrew

3. 'Sex-trafficked to two of the world's most respected politicians', claimed Virginia Giuffre

4. Ms Giuffre was concerned 'what side' Vanity Fair was taking with Epstein article

5. 'The Billionaire's Playboy Club' book pitched to publishers by Ms Giuffre

6. High school girl 'got money for referring girls'

Woman was 'adamant' she would win top lottery prize - then pockets $200,000

The records include many of Epstein's accusers, members of his staff who shared their stories with newspapers, witnesses from Maxwell's defamation trial brought against her by Ms Giuffre, and individuals mentioned briefly during depositions but not accused of anything scandalous.

The court files have been released from a 2015 defamation case brought by Epstein accuser Ms Giuffre against his partner in crime, disgraced British socialite Maxwell, which was settled two years later.

Read more here.

King Charles tipped to hand Prince Andrew new role to prevent further 'embarrassment'

King Charles has been tipped to give Prince Andrew a new role out of the public eye to prevent him piling "more embarrassment" on the Royal Family, claims a royal expert.

Richard Fitzwilliams told Daily Express US: "Prince Andrew remains in limbo. He has, as the world knows, lost all his patronages and ceased to be a working member of the Royal Family because of his catastrophic friendship with the deceased paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice, the convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

"The newly released documents will focus further attention on Andrew as will forthcoming television programmes about his 'car-crash' BBC Newsnight interview. Since the polls show he has no popularity, no comeback could possibly beckon. A job that includes running the royal estates is the only thing that makes sense.

"The moment he appears in public, even on religious occasions, it makes news. Whereas he will continue to be part of the Royal Family, he will continue to embarrass it simply by appearing on royal occasions."

What Prince Harry has said about his 'Uncle Andrew' amid 'shameful' Epstein scandal

Prince Harry called out his "Uncle Andrew" after the Duke of York became "embroiled in a shameful scandal" involving billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew has faced outrage over his connection with the late sex offender after his name was included in newly unsealed legal documents relating to a 2015 lawsuit filed by Epstein victim, Virginia Giuffre. The documents mention high-profile individuals, though there is no suggestion that most of those listed either knew about his crimes or participated in any criminal behaviour.

Writing in his debut memoir Spare, the Duke of Sussex spoke out about Andrew's involvement in the Epstein scandal as he recalled a conversation with his wife Meghan Markle. Harry explained how the Duchess of Sussex feared their state-funded security would be removed after they stepped down from the Royal Family.

He wrote: "Meg asked me one night: 'You don't think they'd ever pull our security, do you?' Never. Not in this climate of hate. And not after what happened to my mother.

"Also, not in the wake of my Uncle Andrew. He was embroiled in a shameful scandal, accused of the sexual assault of a young woman, and no one had so much as suggested that he lose his security. Whatever grievances people had against us, sex crimes weren't on the list."

Read more here.

Buckingham Palace's defence of Andrew used in court by Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer cited Buckingham Palace's defence of Prince Andrew in court, it has been revealed.

It comes as a second set of legal papers, linked to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, named the Duke of York in connection to his former friend and sex offender Maxwell. The latest files include 19 documents, which add up to around 300 pages, and were released late on Thursday.

The newly released papers show that attorney Laura Menninger has used the Palace's defence of Andrew in an attempt to get the 2015 defamation case brought by Virginia Giuffre against Maxwell thrown out.

In 2015, the Palace released a statement which stated that they "emphatically denied" Andrew had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Ms Giuffre. The statement said the complaints were "false and without foundation".

Laura Menninger said Ms Giuffre filed a motion claiming "to have been involved in sexual relations with Prince Andrew, with world leaders, a former prime minister of some country or other, (American lawyer) Mr Alan Dershowitz."

But Ms Menninger added: "The press comes calling and asked my client and Mr Dershowitz and Prince Andrew and everyone else whether any of the allegations contained in this legal pleading are true. Buckingham Palace issued a statement flatly denying the claims made by plaintiff here."

Ms Menninger later went on: "Buckingham Palace said her claims were absolutely untrue," and added that "while others have called her a liar, notably Mr Dershowitz, and others have denied claims that plaintiff has made, including Buckingham Palace ... Ms Maxwell has not actually ever called her a liar".

Read more here.

Andrew-Epstein timeline: From meeting via girlfriend to sex abuse accuser pay off

Here is a timeline from when Prince Andrew first met to Jeffrey Epstein to the disgraced financier's death and a pay off agreed with a sex abuse accuser.

Mid 1990s: The Duke of York is introduced to Epstein through his friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell.

June 2000: Epstein and Maxwell attend party at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen to mark Andrew’s 40th.

March 2001: Epstein’s “sex slave” Virginia Giuffre is flown to London to meet Andrew and he is pictured with his arm around her waist. Giuffre claims they had sex which Andrew vehemently denies.

2006: Epstein is charged with multiple counts of unlawful sexual acts with a minor.

2007: Epstein’s lawyers put together a plea deal. He agreed to plead guilty to two felony prostitution charges in state court, In exchange, he and his accomplices received immunity from federal sex-trafficking charges that could have sent him to prison for life.

2008: Epstein is sentenced to 18 months in jail, serves 13 and is released into house arrest.

July 21, 2009: Epstein released from prison and immediately into house arrest for 12 months.

June 2010: A 2023 civil case presents evidence Andrew dined with Epstein. Emails also show the pair were in contact.

January 2015: Andrew is named in US court documents related to Epstein. Palace denies impropriety. Lawyers for Ms Giuffre formally request that he respond to her allegations under oath. The Duke publicly denies allegations he had sex with the then teenager in an address to guests at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

July 2019: Epstein arrested on charges of child sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Prosecutors accused him in a grand jury indictment of paying dozens of girls as young as 14 to engage in sex acts with him at his New York and Florida properties from 2002 to 2005.

August 9 2019: A US judge unseals legal documents which allege Prince Andrew was accused of touching the breast of 'young college student' Johanna Sjoberg at Epstein's home in 2001. The files relate to the defamation case that Ms Giuffre brought against Ms Maxwell in 2015. Buckingham Palace says the allegations are 'categorically untrue'.

August 10 2019: Epstein commits suicide at the Manhattan Correctional Center in New York. He was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

August 24 2019: Buckingham Palace release statement distancing Andrew from Epstein. "I deplore the exploitation of any human being and would not condone, participate in, or encourage any such behaviour,” the Duke said.

August 9, 2021: Ms Giuffre issued legal proceedings against the Duke of Yorover allegations he abused her at the late financiers Manhattan home and in London while she was under 18. Days later Andrew vehemently denies her allegations.

December 30, 2021: Ghislaine Maxwell found guilty of sex trafficking, procuring and grooming minors for Epstein.

March 2022: Prince Andrew agrees to a multi-million-pound settlement to sexual abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre to dismiss her lawsuit against him.

Read more here.

Rishi Sunak says he will not comment on 'police matters' over Epstein documents

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he will not comment on any police matters relating to the Epstein files and the Duke of York.

The Metropolitan Police have not launched an investigation into any information contained within newly made public court files concerning paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and his contacts with high-profile individuals. Andrew, the Duke of York, strongly denies any wrongdoing.

Speaking to reporters on a visit to Marple, Cheshire, the Prime Minister said it would not be right for him to comment on police matters. He said: "Look, its long-standing convention you wouldn't expect me to comment on police matters, that's not right.

"The police have operational independence from politicians, that's right that they do that, and obviously the police make those operational decisions. The police are operationally independent of government and politicians, it's not right for me to start directing the police on operational matters."

Keir Starmer backs police probe after Prince Andrew claims in Epstein files

Keir Starmer has backed a police probe if "credible" accusations are made, after sexual assault claims linked to Prince Andrew resurfaced in newly released documents.

Anti-monarchy group Republic submitted a complaint to the Metropolitan Police after the allegations resurfaced. New court documents linked the Prince to late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and referred to sexual assault claims. Andrew has always strongly denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

Asked if the police should investigate, the Labour leader told LBC: "We have to start with the victims here and look at what allegations have been made... Where there are credible allegations made then of course they should be looked at."

The Metropolitan Police since said it has not launched an investigation. In a short statement, the force said: "We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it. No investigation has been launched."

Prince Andrew reported to Met Police over claims in latest Jeffrey Epstein documents

Prince Andrew has been reported to the police over allegations made in newly released Jeffrey Epstein court documents.

The Duke of York has been accused of an orgy with underage girls and touching a woman’s breast while posing with a puppet of himself in the first batch of some 1,000 pages released earlier this week. The claims have been strenuously denied by Andrew.

And a new tranche of 300 pages of legal papers again relating to Epstein were released on Thursday where accusations were made that Andrew sexually assaulted a minor in London. The claims likely refer to those made by Ms Guiffre previously – which were settled by Andrew in a US civil court with no admission of liability on his part – but a campaign group has now said it raises “serious questions” and wants answers with the royals appearing “beyond the law”.

The documents – part of a case against Epstein’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell – have thrust Andrew back into the spotlight. They do not reveal any major new allegations about Epstein or his ­associates.

Read the full story here.

Prince Andrew 'had orgy on Caribbean island', Epstein files allege

Jeffrey Epstein 's bombshell court documents accuse Prince Andrew of allegedly having an "orgy on a private island" - as the girl was told to "give him whatever he wants."

According to a 2014 court filing which was released today, one of Epstein's alleged victims, only known as Jane Doe 3 and not identified in the files, was told to have sex with the Duke of York during an orgy on Epstein's island, Little Saint James, in the US Virgin Islands.

The newly unsealed document contains statements where she claims she was 'forced to have sexual relations with this Prince when she was a minor in three separate geographical locations."

In addition, the document claims Epstein told the alleged victim to "give the Prince whatever he demanded." Jane Doe 3, who is not named in the document, also claims Ghislaine Maxwell "facilitated Prince Andrew's acts of sexual abuse by acting as a 'madame' for Epstein'.'

Virginia Giuffre has claimed she had sex with Prince Andrew three times as a 17-year-old, which is the below the age of consent of 18 in the US Virgin Islands. The age of consent in Florida is 18 and 17 in New York.

Read more here.

Inside Jeffrey Epstein's private plane - sick nickname, 'padded walls and creepy bed'

While Jeffrey Epstein's private island has taken centre stage amid allegations against the sex offender - his own jet is also mentioned on multiple occasions in his sex trafficking case files.

The billionaire financier, who killed himself in prison whilst awaiting trial, was accused of grooming and raping underage girls at his private estate located in the US Virgin Islands. He purchased the sprawling 75-acre island, named it All Saint James, in 1998 however it was soon known to locals as a depraved lair, referred to as 'Paedophile Island'.

He allegedly flew his victims in on his private jet dubbed by press as the 'Lolita Express' - nicknamed after Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov's notorious book Lolita (1955) - which tells the story of a literary professor who becomes sexually obsessed with his 12-year-old stepdaughter.

Read the full story here

(US District Court for the Southe)

Met Police says it is not investigating Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew is not being investigated by the Met Police following the release of Jeffrey Epstein court documents, it is confirmed.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it.No investigation has been launched."

Jeffrey Epstein's private island to be turned into luxury resort after £47million sale

Jeffrey Epstein ’s private island - often labelled 'Paedophile Island' - is set to be turned into a luxury resort after being purchased for $60million (£47million).

The sprawling 75-acre estate in the US Virgin Islands was officially called Little Saint James but was given the disturbing second name as it was often frequented with young girls and A-list celebrities. Epstein was accused of grooming and raping underage girls at the property, which he purchased in 1998 for $7.95 million (about £5 million at the time). He later added the much larger 165-acre Great St James island in 2016 for a reported $22.5 million (£14million).

Following Epstein's death in prison in 2019, both Caribbean islands were put up for sale in 2022 and after more than a year on the market were purchased by Stephen Deckoff, founder of private equity firm Black Diamond Capital Management. Deckoff paid $60million (£47million) for both the islands, less than half of the initial asking price.

Deckoff, who has a net worth of $3.2billion according to Forbes, plans to develop a 25-room luxury resort on the property. It's hoped the resort will be open by 2025. In an interview with Forbes in May last year, the billionaire revealed he had never met Epstein and never set foot on the islands until they were put up for sale.

Read the full story here.

Everything we know about Stephen Hawking 'underage orgy' claim in Jeffrey Epstein files

British physicist Stephen Hawking is just one of the high-profile names released in documents relating to billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, where he is alleged to have taken part in an "underage orgy".

The accusation involving Mr Hawking refers to a 2015 email from Epstein to disgraced Maxwell that has been published referring to a claim by Virginia Giuffre. It shows that he was content for her to "issue a reward" to any of Ms Giuffre's friends to counter her claims, shortly after she filed a civil claim in the US.

The email read: "You can issue a reward to any of Virginia’s friends, acquaints, family that come forward and help prove her allegations are false. The strongest is the Clinton dinner, and the new version in the Virgin Islands that Stephen Hawking participated in an underage orgy."

Read the full story here.

Jeffrey Epstein list: UK police must probe Prince Andrew sex claims, top lawyer demands

Prince Andrew still has questions to answer about his time with his paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein, ­according to a leading lawyer.

US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who has represented some of Epstein’s victims, says British detectives now have a duty to investigate the Prince. Mr Kuvin made the demand after sex assault allegations against Andrew, 63, resurfaced in documents newly unsealed by a civil court in America.

In 2021, Scotland Yard announced it was taking no action after a review prompted by Virginia Giuffre, who had filed a separate US civil lawsuit against the Prince claiming he sexually assaulted her, which he vehemently denied.

After the release of the previously unseen legal papers on Wednesday night by a New York judge, calls have been made for the Prince to be grilled.

Mr Kuvin said: “Andrew still refuses to fully account for his time with Epstein and has failed to speak with US investigators about what he knows. British police need to do their duty and reopen their investigation into his conduct.”

Read the full story here.

Inside Jeffrey Epstein's 'paedophile island' lair

Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island looked like paradise - but in reality, it was a sinister lair he used to lure his alleged victims.

It was officially named Little Saint James, but locals referred to the sprawling 75-acre estate as 'Paedophile Island'. Located on the US Virgin Islands, the stone mansion boasted two guest houses, a swimming pool, temple, helipad, sundial, and sweeping views of the crystal clear sea - and some theorists have suggested there is a secret underground tunnel connecting the temple.

When the billionaire financier used it as his primary residence, he had dozens of staff working for him and is known to have hosted many rich and famous guests. But Epstein, who took his own life in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges, was accused of grooming and raping underage girls at the property.

He purchased the estate in 1998 for $7.95 million (about £5 million at the time). And it soon gained a reputation for depravity amid allegations of child sexual abuse, human trafficking and orgies. It is alleged Epstein continued to bring underage girls and young women to the island as recently as the months before his arrest in July 2019.

Read the full story here.

The Duke of York went to Epstein's Caribbean island just once, alleged Ghislaine Maxwell

Prince Andrew only went to Jeffrey Epstein’s private Caribbean island once, claimed Ghislaine Maxwell.

In the newly released court papers is Maxwell’s deposition, in which she claims her friend Andrew visited Little St James only on one occasion. She also said no females were there at the time other than those who worked as house staff.

The British socialite said she “did not recall” being in London with Virginia Giuffre and Andrew, despite a photo said to show the trio together. And she denied ever asking Ms Giuffre to have sex with anybody.

Ms Giuffre has claimed she had sex three times with Andrew in about 2001 when she was 17 and 18. The age of consent in the US Virgin Islands is 18. It is 17 in New York and 16 in the UK.

Other mentions of the Duke in the newly released papers include previous allegations that Epstein “forced Jane Doe #3 to have sexual relations with Andrew” at three locations – “in London (at Ghislaine Maxwell’s apartment), in New York, and on Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands (in an orgy with numerous other under-aged girls)”. The accuser is not named in the papers.

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing. Epstein was 66 when he died by suicide in jail in 2019 as he awaited trial for underage sex trafficking.

Palace's defence of Prince Andrew used by Maxwell's lawyer, court documents show

Buckingham Palace's defence of Prince Andrew was used in court by Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer, the second batch of unsealed court documents showed.

The royal household issued a statement in 2015 in which the Palace "emphatically denied" Andrew had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Ms Giuffre, branding the allegations "false and without foundation".

Newly-released legal papers show the attorney of disgraced British socialite Maxwell mentioned the Palace's defence of Andrew in a bid to get the defamation complaint dismissed. Laura Menninger said Ms Giuffre filed a motion claiming "to have been involved in sexual relations with Prince Andrew, with world leaders, a former prime minister of some country or other, (American lawyer) Mr Alan Dershowitz."

But Ms Menninger added: "The press comes calling and asked my client and Mr Dershowitz and Prince Andrew and everyone else whether any of the allegations contained in this legal pleading are true. Buckingham Palace issued a statement flatly denying the claims made by plaintiff here."

Ms Menninger later said: "Buckingham Palace said her claims were absolutely untrue." She added that "while others have called her a liar, notably Mr Dershowitz, and others have denied claims that plaintiff has made, including Buckingham Palace ... Ms Maxwell has not actually ever called her a liar".

Bill Clinton told Vanity Fair not publish story about Epstein, claims Virginia Giuffre

Bill Clinton went into the offices of Vanity Fair and told the magazine not to publish a planned story about Jeffrey Epstein, claims Virginia Giuffre.

In newly released court documents she made the allegation in an email dated in May 2011, where she was discussing an interview over a planned book.

She alleged that Mr Clinton “walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend JE”.

But there is no evidence to back up her claim and a spokesman for Vanity Fair’s editor at the time Graydon Carter, told The Telegraph that it “categorically” didn’t happen.

Second batch of documents show accuser pitched 'glitzy' memoir of time in couple's orbit

The second set of documents lacked any new blockbuster names, but did reveal further details about the events that lead to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell being accused of sex trafficking.

In the unsealed files, which make up a defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell, it shows that Virginia Giuffre pitched a memoir about what happened while she was in the couple's orbit.

The book was entitled "The Billionaire's Playboy Club" and she described it as " a woman's story of glitz, glamor, sorrow, compassion and true love".

The documents go on to detail Ms Giuffre's relationship with a journalist, Sharon Churcher, who the documents accuse of asking Ms Giuffre to create and embellish stories about the accused.

King Charles told he must 'cut all ties' with Prince Andrew after Epstein update

The King is facing renewed calls to ban Prince Andrew from all royal gatherings due to his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

A source said yesterday there is “no way back” for Andrew. The disgraced Duke of York is once again at the centre of the story after he was named in legal files concerning his former friend and Epstein’s lover, sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell.

(Bav Media)

Royal sources say King Charles is faced with making a dramatic U-turn on his decision to order his family to fall in line and welcome his brother back into the fold.

• Read the full story here.

Premier League star Callum Hudson-Odoi addresses "absurd" Jeffrey Epstein scandal links

England international winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has furiously slammed "absurd" suggestions he was among the individuals to have visited Jeffrey Epstein's island.

Court documents relating to sex offender Epstein were unsealed on Thursday, with a number of high-profile figures named. Epstein died in prison in 2019 at the age of 66, and was awaiting trial over sex trafficking charges at the time of his death.

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All the Epstein files names so far - from Michael Jackson to David Copperfield

The much anticipated previously sealed court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein have been made public and include the names of many high profile figures.

Michael Jackson, Prince Andrew and Leonardo DiCaprio are some of the big names on there along with politicians Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. The people named in the records include many of Epstein’s accusers, members of his staff who told their stories to tabloid newspapers, people who served as witnesses at Maxwell’s trial, people who were mentioned in passing during depositions but aren’t accused of anything salacious, and people who investigated Epstein, including prosecutors, a journalist and a police detective.

(US District Court for the Southe)

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Second batch of Jeffrey Epstein files unsealed by court amid wave of bombshells

A second wave of Jeffrey Epstein documents is being unsealed, with an additional 300 pages of legal files set to be released.

The upcoming batch of files is expected to contain 19 documents, totalling around 300 pages. These eagerly awaited court documents, previously sealed, are related to Jeffrey Epstein and mention several high-profile individuals. The documents were half as many as the over 40 already released earlier on Wednesday.

• Read the full story here.

UK police must now probe Prince Andrew sex claims, top lawyer demands

Prince Andrew still has questions to answer about his time with his paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein, ­according to a leading lawyer.

US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who has represented some of Epstein’s victims, says British detectives now have a duty to investigate the Prince. Mr Kuvin made the demand after sex assault allegations against Andrew, 63, resurfaced in documents newly unsealed by a civil court in America.

(Corbis via Getty Images)

In 2021, Scotland Yard announced it was taking no action after a review prompted by Virginia Giuffre, who had filed a separate US civil lawsuit against the Prince claiming he sexually assaulted her, which he vehemently denied.

• Read the full story here.

Second wave of Epstein files unsealed by court amid storm of bombshells

The second tranche of the Epstein files has begun to be unsealed by a New York court.

The latest cache of legal files is expected to feature 19 documents, totalling around 300 pages.

Jeffrey Epstein 'bragged about phone calls with A-list stars' during massage

Newly released documents from the high-profile lawsuit filed by Viginia Guiffre against Ghislaine Maxwell reveal Jeffery Epstein, the disgraced sex trafficker, used to brag about taking phone calls with high profile celebrities during massages.

Epstein was a billionaire known for associating with celebrities, politicians, billionaires and academic stars, and his connections with these famous stars has been highlighted in new court documents. A previously sealed deposition with Johanna Sjoberg, who alleges Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell abused her in the 1990s, has seen her tell how the business mogul would allegedly "namedrop" celebrities including actress Cate Blanchett.

While allegedly receiving a massage from Sjoberg, she claimed Epstein "would be on the phone a lot" with her including while getting a massage where he named the Hollywood star. Sjoberg explained: "One time he said, 'Oh, that was ... Cate Blanchett ...' That kind of thing."

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All 67 times Prince Andrew is mentioned by name in unsealed Jeffrey Epstein file

The Duke of York was mentioned by name 67 times in the much-anticipated unsealed documents naming alleged associates of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The people listed were those named as associates of Epstein and there is no suggestion those listed either knew about his crimes or participated in any criminal behaviour.

The documents being unsealed are part of a 2015 lawsuit filed against Ghislaine Maxwell by one of Epstein's victims, Virginia Giuffre. She is one of dozens of women who sued Epstein saying he had abused them at his homes in Florida, New York, the U.S. Virgin Islands and New Mexico.

For the full list of the 67 mentions, click here.

Jeffrey Epstein's private island to be turned into luxury resort after £47million sale

Jeffrey Epstein ’s private island - often labelled 'Paedophile Island' - is set to be turned into a luxury resort after being purchased for $60million (£47million).

The sprawling 75-acre estate in the US Virgin Islands was officially called Little Saint James but was given the disturbing second name as it was often frequented with young girls and A-list celebrities. Epstein was accused of grooming and raping underage girls at the property, which he purchased in 1998 for $7.95 million (about £5 million at the time). He later added the much larger 165-acre Great St James island in 2016 for a reported $22.5 million (£14million).

Following Epstein's death in prison in 2019, both Caribbean islands were put up for sale in 2022 and after more than a year on the market were purchased by Stephen Deckoff, founder of private equity firm Black Diamond Capital Management. Deckoff paid $60million (£47million) for both the islands, less than half of the initial asking price.

For the full story, click here.

Inside Jeffrey Epstein's 'Paedophile Island' lair

Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island looked like paradise - but in reality, it was a sinister lair he used to lure his alleged victims.

It was officially named Little Saint James, but locals referred to the sprawling 75-acre estate as 'Paedophile Island'. Located on the US Virgin Islands, the stone mansion boasted two guest houses, a swimming pool, temple, helipad, sundial, and sweeping views of the crystal clear sea - and some theorists have suggested there is a secret underground tunnel connecting the temple.

When the billionaire financier used it as his primary residence, he had dozens of staff working for him and is known to have hosted many rich and famous guests. But Epstein, who took his own life in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges, was accused of grooming and raping underage girls at the property.

For the full story, click here.

(Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Prince Andrew 'had orgy on private island', explosive Jeffrey Epstein files claim

Jeffrey Epstein 's bombshell court documents accuse Prince Andrew of allegedly having an "orgy on a private island" - as the girl was told to "give him whatever he wants."

According to a 2014 court filing which was released today, one of Epstein's alleged victims, only known as Jane Doe 3 and not identified in the files, was told to have sex with the Duke of York during an orgy on Epstein's island, Little Saint James, in the US Virgin Islands.

The newly unsealed document contains statements where she claims she was 'forced to have sexual relations with this Prince when she was a minor in three separate geographical locations."

For the full story, click here.