Email appears to contradict Andrew's claims about photo with accuser

An email seemingly sent by Ghislaine Maxwell appears to contradict claims by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor that a photograph of him with his sexual abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre is not real.  The authenticity of the picture, which shows Andrew with his arm around Ms Giuffre, had previously been questioned by the former Duke of York, who claimed in 2019 that he could not have been in the photo as he was at a Pizza Express in Woking at the time.

However, an email from Maxwell to Jeffrey Epstein, part of the latest files release by the US Department of Justice, appears to confirm the circumstances of the picture. Dated 10 January 2015, the email contains a "draft statement" in which Maxwell defends herself against allegations of abuse by an unidentified woman.

The name of the woman has been redacted, but - while it cannot be certain - the details indicate it is Ms Giuffre. Maxwell wrote: "In 2001 I was in London when [redacted] met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew.

A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family." Sky News has reached out to Andrew for comment. Tap here to see the redacted email in full Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide last April, alleged Andrew had sex with her when she was 17 and claimed she had been trafficked by Epstein.

Andrew has always denied the claim and reached an out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre in 2022, which contained no admission of liability or apology. In 2015, Ms Giuffre filed a civil defamation claim against Maxwell, Epstein's ex-girlfriend and long-time associate, which was settled two years later.

Alleged threesome with stripper A separate document contained in the latest Epstein files release claims Andrew and Epstein engaged in a threesome with an exotic dancer. A legal letter from 23 March 2011 alleges Epstein introduced the dancer to the former prince.

The men "then told my client they wanted to have a threesome" and they "prevailed up her to engage in various sex acts". A later section of the letter refers to the men "satisfying themselves".

Sky News has approached Andrew for a response to this specific claim. He has vigorously denied any accusations against him related to Epstein and his crimes.

He said in 2019 he regretted his "ill-judged association" with Epstein and sympathises with everyone affected. Earlier this week, Andrew moved out of Royal Lodge to a house on Sandringham Estate, believed to be temporary accommodation ahead of a permanent move to Norfolk.

Read more from Sky News:Murder investigation launched after student diesTrump orders 700 immigration officers to leave Minnesota Peter Mandelson, another high-profile British figure named in the latest in the latest tranche of documents, is the subject of a Metropolitan Police investigation over claims he leaked highly sensitive information to Epstein while in public office. Sir Keir Starmer will be forced to publish files about his decision to appoint him as the UK's US ambassador after Labour backbenchers forced a government climbdown on Wednesday..