06 January 2024 , 21:01
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Prince Andrew refuses to quit his plush royal pad despite new claims about his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Legal papers say the duke had “daily massages” during frequent visits to the late US paedophile’s Florida mansion. But a source close to Andrew and ex-wife Fergie – who share 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor – said: “Andrew is going nowhere. He has a cast iron lease."
Prince Andrew has vowed to resist any attempt by the King to kick him out of his mansion – despite new claims about his links to paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein.
The late billionaire’s butler has testified that the Duke of York enjoyed “daily massages” at Epstein’s Florida mansion. But Andrew has told friends he will not be forced out of 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berks, where he has lived for more than 20 years.
Prince Andrew has vowed to resist any attempt by the King to kick him out of his mansion (PA)A source close to the prince, 63, said: “Andrew is going nowhere. The King can’t force him out. He has a cast iron lease that he has absolutely every intention of honouring.” Epstein’s butler Juan Alessi said Andrew was a frequent guest at his friend’s Palm Beach pad and stayed in the main guest bedroom, known as the “blue room”.
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Mr Alessi, Epstein’s housekeeper from 1991 until 2002, added: “Prince Andrew spent weeks with us.”
He admitted he could not remember if Andrew had more than one massage each day and he didn’t know what happened during them. The claims are the latest of hundreds in legal documents on Epstein released in the last few days.
Despite the allegations, Andrew is remaining defiant even though he has no apparent income, facing a £2million repair bill, plus the prospect of yet more damaging claims surfacing in the US.
Insiders say his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, gave him “absolute assurance” he would not have to leave if he did not want to. In 2003 he signed a 75-year lease on the property, agreeing to maintain the house and its 93 acres.
Jeffrey Epstein (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Prince Andrew was forced to pay his accuser Virginia Giuffre £12million to halt a civil trial taking place (UK Press via Getty Images)Andrew’s allies say he has ploughed more than £7.5million into repairing and renovating the sprawling pile he shares with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Tonight friends of both Andrew and Fergie – whose marriage lasted from 1986 to 1996 – said he was adamant he would not look at alternative accommodation – despite Charles offering his brother Harry and Meghan’s former home nearby, four-bedroom Frogmore Cottage.
Andrew’s defiance comes as allegations about his relationship with Epstein resurfaced after a US court ordered hundreds of legal papers to be unsealed last week. They date from a 2015 defamation lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre against Epstein’s ex Ghislaine Maxwell, 61, who is in jail for procuring girls for him to abuse.
Ms Giuffre, 40, says she was kept as a sex slave by Epstein and forced to have sex with the duke. Andrew has always vehemently denied wrongdoing and said he has “no recollection” of ever meeting her. However, in 2022 Andrew paid her £12million to halt a US civil trial after she accused him of sexually assaulting her three times when she was 17.
Prince Andrew riding in the grounds of Windsor Great Park (© Jim Bennett)The documents repeat an allegation that Andrew took part in an orgy with underage girls during one of his stays on Epstein’s private Caribbean island. The accuser – not named in the papers but said to be Ms Giuffre – says she was forced to join in the orgy.
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The latest claims from Epstein’s housekeeper Mr Alessi, released late on Friday, also reveal that Fergie was another “friend” of the tycoon, who died in jail in 2019. Mr Alessi said she visited his Florida mansion once but he believed she was only there briefly and didn’t stay overnight.
Anti-monarchy group Republic reported Andrew to the Metropolitan Police on Thursday after the US documents emerged. But the Met said: “No investigation has been launched. Should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it.”
A spokesperson for the duke could not be reached for comment. Andrew has denied repeatedly visiting Epstein’s Florida home.
Jeffrey Epstein's former home on the island of Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands (TNS)Duke’s past with evil paedophile pal Epstein
Mid 1990s: The Duke of York is introduced to Epstein through his friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell.
1999: Andrew hosts Epstein and his entourage at Balmoral.
April 2000: Andrew and Maxwell are seen on holiday with Epstein at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.
June 2000: Epstein and Maxwell attend party at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen to mark Andrew’s 40th birthday.
December 2000: Andrew throws a birthday party for Maxwell at Sandringham. Epstein is present.
Christmas 2000: Andrew leaves the Royal Family’s annual gathering to join Maxwell and Epstein in Thailand for New Year’s Eve.
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.
2008: Epstein is sentenced to 18 months in jail, serves 13 and is released into house arrest.
June 2010: A 2023 civil case presents evidence Andrew dined with Epstein. Emails also show they were in contact.
December 2010: Andrew meets Epstein and is pictured with him in Central Park, New York.
January 2015: Andrew is named in US court documents related to Epstein. Palace denies impropriety.
July 2019: Epstein arrested on charges of child sex trafficking.
August 10, 2019: Epstein commits suicide in jail awaiting trial.
November 2019: Andrew delivers car crash Newsnight interview over his friendship with Epstein.
August 9, 2021: Duke sued by Ms Giuffre who claims he abused her at 17. Days later, he denies this.
December 30, 2021: Ghislaine Maxwell is found guilty of sex trafficking, procuring and grooming minors for Epstein.
March 2022: Prince Andrew agrees to a multimillion-pound settlement with Ms Giuffre.
January 2024: Prince Andrew is named in court documents relating to Epstein after a judge ordered the release of previously sealed case files. The court papers include a detailed witness statement from Johanna Sjoberg, who claimed Prince Andrew groped her at Epstein’s house in New York.