New Epstein Files Revelation: Prince Andrew Had 'Consensual' Contact With Virginia Giuffre

Jeffrey Epstein's apparent failure to correct or dispute a characterisation made in a newly unsealed email stands in marked contrast to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's longstanding and categorical denials that he ever met Virginia Giuffre or had any sexual contact with her, adding a sharp new twist to the scandal.

A newly released unredacted email in the latest tranche of Epstein-related documents has introduced a sharp new detail into the long-running scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The disclosure lands against the backdrop of years of denials by the former Duke of York and the broader fallout from the trafficking allegations that have shadowed the British Royal Family for more than a decade.

Epstein's Silence After 'Consensual Sex' Claim Raises Fresh Questions

A January 2015 email shows a journalist telling Epstein — in blunt terms — that the former Duke of York had "consensual sex" with Virginia Giuffre. The email was sent by Landon Thomas Jr., whose signature at the time identified him as a financial reporter for The New York Times.

Writing as scrutiny over Epstein's connections intensified, Thomas urged him to create distance from Mountbatten-Windsor, warning that the association was prolonging public attention. He typed:

"I think the big issue is separating yourself from Andrew. I mean I can see why a statement might help in some way -- but its Andrew (not clinton and the rest) that is keeping the story alive. Until you are able to come forward and address the story lives on [sic]."

Thomas then referenced Giuffre by the initials of her maiden name, Virginia Roberts, and made the assertion at the heart of the exchange, "I mean in the end he had consensual sex with VR. And VR worked for you. The rest is atmospherics."

"You have moved on! People don't know that and [can't] accept that unless you say as much," Thomas continued. In the exchange, Epstein does not appear to correct the financial reporter's characterisation — a point that stands out given Mountbatten-Windsor's public position for years.

A spokesperson for The New York Times said in a statement, "Landon Thomas Jr. has not worked at The Times since early 2019 after editors discovered his failure to abide by our ethical standards."

In her book, Giuffre described alleged sexual encounters involving Mountbatten-Windsor.

As for Mountbatten-Windsor, the fallen royal has previously addressed the allegations in public. In his 2019 BBC "Newsnight" interview, he said he did not recall meeting Giuffre and questioned the credibility of a photograph showing them together with Ghislaine Maxwell.

The newly released email is not, by itself, proof of the allegations. But it reintroduces a stark claim in writing — and places focus on what Epstein did not say in response — at a time when the Epstein case continues to produce politically and personally explosive disclosures.

Three Alleged Encounters and a Settlement Without Admission

Giuffre, one of Epstein's most prominent accusers, had alleged she was trafficked to Mountbatten-Windsor when she was 17. Her claims formed part of a civil case that reverberated internationally.

Her posthumously published memoir, "Nobody's Girl," released in October 2025, returned the allegations to the foreground. In her book, Giuffre described three alleged sexual encounters involving Mountbatten-Windsor.

She wrote that on March 10, 2001, she was in London at Maxwell's home when she was told the former Duke of York would be joining them. An extract from her posthumous memoir reads:

"When Prince Andrew arrived at the house that evening, Maxwell was more coquettish than usual. 'Guess Jenna's [Giuffre] age,' she urged the prince, after she introduced me. The Duke of York, who was then 41, guessed correctly: 17."

Giuffre described a night that included dinner and a nightclub, followed by a return to the house where, she alleged, Maxwell instructed her to provide sexual services to Mountbatten-Windsor in the same way she was expected to for Epstein.

Giuffre alleged that intercourse took place that night and said the encounter was brief. She also alleged a second encounter at Epstein's townhouse in New York and a third on Epstein's private island, Little Saint James, which she described as involving multiple others.

The former Duke of York has consistently denied wrongdoing, and, in 2022, reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre without any admission of liability.

However, his standing within the Royal Family has since continued to erode. He was stripped of his royal titles and honours by his brother, King Charles III, in October 2025 and was forced to move out of his Royal Lodge home.

Private Emails, Public Fallout, and Giuffre's Death

Giuffre sadly died by suicide on April 25, 2025, at her farmhouse in Neergabby, about an hour north of Perth, Australia. She was 41. In a separate development, the newly released Epstein files briefly exposed private emails that were mistakenly made public before being redacted.

Those messages, described as deeply personal, were understood to reflect Giuffre's state of mind in the months before her death. One email from Maria Farmer, described as one of the earliest known Epstein victims, appeared to reveal Giuffre's cause of death. Farmer wrote in an email dated May 8, 2025:

"She died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound last week at her home in Australia."

The email was sent to several recipients, including attorneys David Boies and Sigrid McCawley, who both represented Giuffre during lengthy court battles. New York Times business reporter Emily Steel and other legal professionals were also copied on the correspondence.

In the same message, Farmer wrote, "I have no idea how to survive now. She was our leader, our purpose. This is agonising for her children, especially her little girl. No one should ask so much of public victims."

Days after Giuffre's death, her lawyer and friend, Karrie Louden, spoke to the media outside the farmhouse. Louden said she was "in shock" and had been in contact with Giuffre in the days before her death, but would not speculate on the circumstances.

She revealed that there were no suspicious circumstances, "as far as we are aware," and confirmed she did not know whether a suicide note had been left.

The combined disclosures — a journalist's unvarnished claim left unchallenged in an email and the brief exposure of private messages after Giuffre's death — underscore how the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to reshape reputations and reopen wounds years after the central criminal case.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.