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Emails between Ghislaine Maxwell and an individual signing off as “A” are among the largest dump yet of documents released by the US Department of Justice in relation to the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
While “A” – who also refers to themselves as “The Invisible Man” – is not explicitly identified in the emails, they include key details that corroborate the suggestion that they are Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was then still a working royal known as Prince Andrew.
The correspondence, dating back to 2001, includes what would seem to be damning language – such as when “A” asks Maxwell “have you found me some new inappropriate friends?” – and sections of text which correlate with details suggesting the messages are from the then prince.
Mountbatten-Windsor has been approached for comment. In October, he said of claims about his links with Epstein: “I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
16 August 2001 | From: ‘The Invisible Man’
“I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family. Activities take place all day and I am totally exhausted at the end of each day. The Girls are completely shattered and I will have to give them an early night today as it is getting tiring splitting them up all the time! How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”
Newspaper reports from the time record that Mountbatten-Windsor did indeed visit Balmoral, the royal family’s Scottish estate, in August 2001. One names him as being at the estate with his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, where they had breakfast with the queen and Prince Philip when there was a “fire scare” as a nurse making Princess Margaret’s breakfast burnt a slice of toast.
Beatrice and Eugenie would have been aged 13 and 11 that Summer.
18 August 2001 | From: ‘The Invisible Man’
“Distraught! You probably wouldn’t know but I lost my valet on Thursday.
“He died in his sleep. He had been with me since I was 2. I am a little off balance as not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN and now my whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me. He was a real rock and almost a part of the family.”
The use of “RN” appears to be a reference to the Royal Navy, which the then Duke of York left in July 2001 after 22 years in the service.
Reports from 2001 record that Mountbatten-Windsor’s valet, Michael Perry, 61, died days before the email was sent. A report in the Daily Mirror said the then prince and his brother Prince Edward were said to be “devastated” at the death of Perry “who has worked for them since they were children.”
It added: “Andrew is on holiday at Balmoral. An aide said: ‘He is very, very upset.’”
Maxwell responded in an email which appeared to refer to the request days earlier by “A” for “inappropriate friends” telling him: “So sorry to disappoint you. However, the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends.”
28 February 2002 | From: ‘The Invisible Man’
“As for girls well I leave that entirely to you and Juan Estoban!” I am going to have more time after tomorrow to know what will happen and when in Peru so I will be in touch again on Friday.”
This was a response from “A” after Maxwell forwarded messages from someone referred to as Juan Estoban Ganoza, outlining possible activities on a visit to Peru, including visiting the Nazca Lines.
Mountbatten-Windsor, then still a working royal and UK trade envoy, did visit Peru in March 2002, with photographs recording him being in locations including Lima.
3 March 2002 | From: Ghislaine Maxwell
“I just gave Andrew your telephone no. He is interested in seeing the Nazca Lines. He can ride but it is not his favorite sport ie pass on the horses. Some sight seeing some 2 legged sight seeing (read intelligent pretty fun and from good families) and he will be very happy. I know I can rely on you to show him a wonderful time and that you will only introduce him to friends that you can trust and rely on to be friendly and discreet and fun. He does not want to read about any trip in the papers whom or what he saw.”
A message apparently forwarded after it had been sent by Maxwell to the individual known as Juan Estoban Ganoza, this email is the only time that the name “Andrew” is directly used. In reply to the forwarded message “A” appears to recognise the sentence as a reference to him, saying: “I will ring him today if I can.”
