New Emails Suggest Epstein Sought Andrew's China Contacts Despite Claims He Cut Ties in 2010
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s defense regarding his ties with Jeffrey Epstein has long rested on the assertion of a clean break in 2010. However, damaging new evidence from the Epstein files suggests this narrative may be fundamentally flawed. Previously unseen emails have been revealed to show the disgraced financier continuing to discuss the former Duke of York as a potential asset in his international business dealings with China months after Mountbatten-Windsor claimed their association had ended. The correspondence, now emerging from court-linked disclosures, has reopened uncomfortable questions about the former Prince’s credibility.
The emails form part of a cache of more than 1,000 messages exchanged between Epstein and Jes Staley, the former Chief Executive of Barclays between 2009 and February 2011. In those exchanges, Mountbatten-Windsor is referenced 11 times, with the financier convinced that the former Prince could help advance business interests in China. In one March 2010 message, published by The Sun, Epstein dismissed growing scrutiny, writing, “The English papers want andrews[sic] head, tomorow[sic] they will say the fbi investigation wants to talk to him,, its all bull,, but it sells.”
Despite Mountbatten-Windsor’s insistence that he had severed ties, Epstein continued to communicate as though access remained open. In May 2010 the financier emailed the former Prince directly ahead of a meeting with Staley, offering reassurance about the banker’s credibility. “I know you are seeing Jes Staley this morning,” Epstein wrote, also adding, “he is like family, and can be trusted. 100%.” The timing of the message has drawn renewed attention given Epstein’s prior conviction and the public controversy surrounding the former Prince at the time.
Later correspondence suggests Mountbatten-Windsor’s name continued to surface in discussions involving senior figures in China. On September 2, 2010 Staley told the disgraced financier he had met high-ranking Chinese officials before adding, “I’m seeing the Prince this afternoon.” The ‘Prince’ term is said to be a reference to Mountbatten-Windsor. In another exchange later that month, Epstein wrote, “Prince Andrew would like much more to represent casanov in china than tim Collins,” indicating a perceived willingness to play a role in commercial representation.
The trail of references did not end there and intensified toward the end of 2010. Epstein began forwarding emails to Staley from the former Prince concerning a proposed £150 million (about $202 million) oil deal. The emails prepared as evidence in the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell stated, “Since the company is based in the US Prince Andrew appeared to suggest Epstein connect them with a US bank.” Mountbatten-Windsor’s name continued to surface as late as February 28 2011 when the late financier told Staley that “andrew asked for your london schedule.”
Staley has since maintained that his relationship with the late financier has been purely professional and expressed “deep regret” for the association, denying any knowledge of his crimes. On the other hand, Mountbatten-Windsor continues to deny wrongdoing. While he previously insisted he cut all contact with Epstein, the newly released emails are likely to further challenge that claim.