Newly published images from the Jeffrey Epstein case have reignited controversy around Prince Andrew, including a photograph that appears to place him at the center of a deeply compromising scene inside one of the British monarchy’s most sacred spaces.
Among the images released over the weekend are photos showing billionaire Bill Gates with one of Epstein’s victims, former US President Bill Clinton relaxing in a jacuzzi, former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak embracing the convicted sex offender, and Prince Andrew, the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
In one particularly disturbing image, Andrew is seen lying across the laps of five women, believed to be underage, inside Sandringham House, the royal family’s private estate in Norfolk. Standing behind him is Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and a British socialite later convicted of sex trafficking minors.
The image has triggered renewed outrage and raised acute concerns within the royal family, as it appears to show Maxwell inside Sandringham itself, a location regarded as one of the monarchy’s inner sanctums.
Days after the image became public, it emerged that Andrew’s daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, were invited to spend Christmas with the royal family, without their father. Princess Beatrice has since decided to distance herself further, choosing to spend the holiday abroad with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and their children.
“Beatrice told friends she is devastated and frustrated by the situation,” a friend of the princess said. “She did not want to cause embarrassment and felt torn between loyalty to the king and loyalty to her parents. In the end, she felt it would be easier to spend the holiday with friends.”
Princess Eugenie is said to be facing the same dilemma. Friends told the Mail on Sunday that both sisters remain deeply loyal to King Charles and the monarchy, while also feeling a strong sense of loyalty to their parents.
The photograph has drawn particular attention because it was reportedly taken in one of Sandringham’s most prestigious rooms, a space where King Charles, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, traditionally spend time together during Christmas, watching television, playing games and gathering as a family.
The room, located near the entrance to the estate, is also where the royal family often gathers to watch the monarch’s prerecorded Christmas address, a tradition begun by Queen Elizabeth II.
Beyond the questions surrounding Andrew’s relationship with Epstein, the image has intensified scrutiny over what he knew about Maxwell and how she was allowed access to Sandringham. Above all, critics say it suggests Andrew brought a woman later convicted of trafficking minors into one of the most protected and symbolic spaces of the British royal family.