Prince Andrew, Duke of York — the controversial email exchange with Jeffrey Epstein
Full details of the email exchange
Here is a detailed breakdown of the email(s) that have recently come to light and the context surrounding them.
What the email says
- On 28 February 2011, an email was sent from what is reported to be Prince Andrew’s official address to Jeffrey Epstein. (ABC)
- The text of the email includes:
“I’m just as concerned for you! Don’t worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and we’ll have to rise above it. Otherwise keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!” (www.ndtv.com)
- The email is signed: “A, HRH The Duke of York, KG”. (www.ndtv.com)
- The timing is especially significant: it was sent the day after a widely‑circulated photograph emerged showing Prince Andrew with his arm around Virginia Giuffre at the home of Ghislaine Maxwell in London. (The Times of India)
Why this is controversial
- Publicly, Prince Andrew claimed that he cut off contact with Epstein in December 2010. (thenewdaily.com.au)
- But the email is dated February 2011—months after the claimed date of cessation of ties—suggesting ongoing communication. (British Brief)
- The phrasing “we are in this together” raises serious questions about the nature of Andrew’s relationship with Epstein and his acknowledgement of a shared predicament rather than a distant acquaintance. (royal-insider.com)
- Because Epstein was a convicted sex offender (convicted in 2008) and had been under scrutiny, the fact that this email appeared after public exposure of the photograph amplifies the reputational risk. (The Independent)
Timeline & related context
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Photograph taken of Andrew, Giuffre and Maxwell. (Published in 2011) |
| December 2010 | Andrew claims to have ended his association with Epstein. (thenewdaily.com.au) |
| 27 Feb 2011 | Photo published in media of Andrew with Giuffre and Maxwell. (blue News) |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Email from Andrew to Epstein (as reported). (www.ndtv.com) |
| 2025 | Email becomes widely publicised, intensifying scrutiny. (GB News) |
Implications and reactions
- The email undermines Andrew’s prior public statements about ending contact with Epstein. That has major implications for his credibility and for how the royal family assesses his role. (GB News)
- Public and media reaction has been intense: the phrasing of the email (“we’ll play some more soon”) has been described as “hugely damning” by royal commentators. (royal-insider.com)
- The revelations have ripple effects for the royal institution: there are questions about how the monarchy handles accountability, reputational risk, and the management of members who become embroiled in major controversies. (GB News)
- Legal/political consequences: The email adds fresh fuel to allegations and civil claims related to Epstein’s sex‑trafficking network and associated parties. It may influence public pressure, regulatory investigations or parliamentary scrutiny.
Comments — broader significance
- For public trust: When a public figure claims to have severed ties but then appears to maintain them, trust erodes. The email reinforces doubts rather than quelling them.
- For reputational management: The case shows how communications—emails, internal memos—can become public and have major fallout. In the digital age, no correspondence can be assumed private forever.
- For institutional governance: The monarchy, like any large institution, must handle crises of individual behaviour within its broader brand. This email places that governance under scrutiny.
- For victims and survivors: For survivors of Epstein’s network, the email may be seen as further evidence of complicity or at least association, heightening the moral and emotional dimension of the story.
- For precedent: This may set a benchmark for how future private communications by high‑profile individuals — especially those previously assured of severance of ties — are interpreted and judged.
Key take‑away
The 2011 email from Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein is a serious development. It contradicts his earlier timeline, conveys a tone of shared experience, and emerges at a very sensitive moment (immediately after the photograph’s publication). For Andrew and the royal family, it presents a complex reputational crisis; for the public, it is a reminder of the enduring power of digital records and the ways in which informal – even casual – messages can have extraordinary consequences.
-
Case Study: Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Jeffrey Epstein — the “In This Together” Email
What’s happened
- A previously unpublished email dated 28 February 2011 has emerged in UK media and legal documents, apparently sent from Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein. In it he writes:
“I’m just as concerned for you! Don’t worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and we’ll have to rise above it. Otherwise keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!” (newsweek.com)
- The email was sent one day after a photograph was published showing Andrew with his arm around Virginia Giuffre (then‑17) at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell. The timing therefore links the email with the emerging scandal. (The Times of India)
- The message contradicts Andrew’s earlier public claim from a 2019 interview that he had “no contact with Epstein from December 2010 onward.” (upday.com)
- Media investigations suggest this is not an isolated message: there are reports of “volumes of emails” exchanged between Andrew and Epstein (and related parties) around this time. (London TV)
Why this is controversial
- Credibility impact: The email undermines Andrew’s previous public statement about ending contact in December 2010 — showing he emailed Epstein months later.
- Tone and language: Phrases like “we are in this together” and “we’ll play some more soon!!!!” are seen as highly problematic given Epstein’s criminal history and the nature of allegations against both of them. Observers call the tone “hugely damning.” (royal-insider.com)
- Institutional risk: As a senior royal figure, Andrew’s communications have implications not just for his personal reputation but for the monarchy’s integrity. One expert described it as “perhaps the gravest crisis” for the royal family in decades. (upday.com)
- Legal & investigative angle: While the email itself may not directly establish criminal conduct, it adds to a body of evidence under scrutiny — both historically (regarding Epstein’s trafficking network) and institutionally (royal accountability). (People.com)
Key lessons for brands, institutions & public‑figures
- Digital footprint permanence: Emails, even informal ones, can surface years later, especially in high‑stakes situations. Public figures must assume clarity, oversight and future exposure in any communication.
- Alignment of public statements and private conduct: Discrepancies between what is publicly claimed (e.g., “ended contact in December 2010”) and what emerges privately (e.g., emails months later) create credibility crises.
- Tone matters: Even if nothing illicit is proven solely from the email, the language (“we’ll play some more soon”) invites interpretation and reputational damage. For institutions, avoidance of ambiguous or jocular language in sensitive contexts is advisable.
- Institutional risk management: Organisations tied to senior individuals must assess how individuals’ conduct (personal, social) can affect the larger entity. Risk isn’t just legal—it’s reputational, systemic.
- Delayed consequences: What seems ‘old news’ may not stay old. Historical records, emails, transcripts can be legally or publicly relevant years later, especially when new revelations emerge in adjacent cases.
Final reflection
This email exchange illustrates a convergence of three critical risk vectors: senior status + historical controversial associations + digital correspondence. While the email alone may not be legally definitive, its value lies in what it signals: ongoing contact, contradictory timelines, and a tone that invites negative interpretation. For any public‑facing individual or institution, the case reinforces that communication off‑record often becomes on‑record, and the gap between private action and public narrative is perilous.
- A previously unpublished email dated 28 February 2011 has emerged in UK media and legal documents, apparently sent from Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein. In it he writes: