Prince Andrew reportedly hosted Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Harvey Weinstein at his Royal Lodge home in Windsor following his daughter Princess Beatrice’s masked ball 18th birthday celebrations in 2006. This new detail, confirmed by the BBC through image analysis, emerged amid renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s ties to the convicted sex offenders and his current living arrangements.
The event took place at the 30-room Royal Lodge, a publicly owned mansion in the grounds of Windsor Castle. While it was previously known that Epstein, Maxwell, and Weinstein attended the birthday party at Windsor Castle, the revelation that they were hosted at Andrew’s private residence adds a layer of intimacy to their associations. The visit occurred just two months after a US arrest warrant was issued for Epstein for the sexual assault of a minor, a fact that Andrew claimed he was unaware of at the time.
In a 2019 interview with BBC Newsnight, Andrew stated, ‘Certainly I wasn’t aware when the invitation was issued what was going on in the United States and I wasn’t aware until the media picked up on it because he never said anything about it.’ However, this explanation has done little to quell criticism, especially as Andrew has faced numerous allegations, including from Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse, which he denies.
Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, had a longstanding relationship with Andrew, including visits to royal estates like Balmoral and Sandringham. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and trafficking minors for sexual abuse. Harvey Weinstein has been convicted of sexual assault in New York and Los Angeles but is pursuing retrials on some counts.
The report comes at a time when Andrew is under increased pressure over his lifestyle and residence. He has lived at Royal Lodge since 2003, paying only a nominal rent, which has sparked debates about royal finances and privilege. Recently, Andrew relinquished his royal dukedom and other honors ahead of the publication of Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, which detailed her claims against him.
According to the Mirror, Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson are in discussions to leave Royal Lodge voluntarily, with potential moves to Frogmore Cottage or Adelaide Cottage, both within Windsor Castle grounds. This follows reports that King Charles had offered Frogmore Cottage to Andrew earlier, but it was declined. The ongoing property saga reflects the monarchy’s efforts to manage the fallout from Andrew’s controversies.
Public reaction has been vocal, with incidents such as King Charles being heckled over Andrew’s links to Epstein during a recent visit to Lichfield Cathedral. This underscores the broader societal impact and the challenges the royal family faces in maintaining public trust. As the story develops, the focus remains on how Andrew’s past actions continue to influence his present circumstances and the institution’s reputation.