More embarrassment for Prince Andrew, Duke of York, today, after UK newspaper The Daily Mirror unearthed photos of the scandal-plagued royal hobnobbing with late sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein, his alleged ‘madam’ Ghislaine Maxwell – and Donald Trump.
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the new photos, which have only drawn further attention to the questionable past associations of the Queen’s second son.
WATCH: Alleged ‘sex slave’ Virginia Roberts says Prince Andrew ‘knows what he’s done’
The photos, which date back to 2000, come as the Prince desperately attempts to minimise his friendship with Epstein, who apparently killed himself in a New York prison amid an underaged sex scandal. One of Epstein’s alleged former teen sex slaves, Virginia Roberts, claims she was leant out to the prince for sexual favours three times – a claim the prince strenuously denies.
But Andrew’s attempts to downplay his involvement with Epstein have been harmed by the emergence of the photos, which have been published today on the cover of the Mirror. See the pictures and story here.
Images from the night show the prince partying at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida. Andrew is also seen hobnobbing with Trump’s future wife Melania.
The pictures were taken eight years before Epstein was convicted of soliciting an underaged girl for prostitution.
Prince Andrew said of Epstein, in a poorly-received statement earlier this week: ‘I saw him infrequently and probably no more than only once or twice a year.
‘At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction.’
The Duke has previously apologised for continuing his friendship with Epstein, despite his 2008 conviction.
Maxwell’s rep also denies the allegations being made against her, dismissing them as ‘untrue’.
Virginia Roberts said of the Prince’s denials this week: ‘He knows what he’s done. I hope he comes clean about it.’
WATCH: Footage emerges of Prince Andrew inside Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion