Prince Andrew and the pictures that cast doubt over friends’ claims infamous photo with Epstein ‘sex slave’ is fake
PICTURES of Prince Andrew appear to cast doubt on his friends’ claim that the infamous 2001 photograph of him with Virginia Roberts is FAKE.
The snap of the royal and the then 17-year-old alleged sex slave which was reportedly taken by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, 66, continues to haunt the Duke of York.
Following Epstein’s suicide on August 10, Virginia has called for Andrew to “come clean” about their alleged encounters – in which she claims she had sex with the prince three times.
Prince Andrew, 59, has strongly denied the claims– which were struck out by a judge in a 2015 defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell.
Ms Maxwell, 57, a former lover of Epstein, is seen in the notorious picture of the Duke and Ms Roberts, who now uses the surname Giuffre.
But sources close to The Queen’s second son have hit out at the “witch-hunt” against him telling the Evening Standard the prince has “absolutely no recollection” of the picture.
They also insist that the Duke’s fingers are “chubby” and do not resemble the hand seen in the infamous picture.
However, images have emerged which appear to cast doubt on their claims, reports The Daily Mail.
The snaps show Andrew in London in July 2000 – showing the royal leaving a night club wearing almost the exact same outfit as he allegedly did in the picture with Ms Roberts.
Those pictures prove that the prince enjoyed wearing dark trousers, a partially unbuttoned shirt and cufflinks shortly before the allegations were made.
His pals also refute Ms Roberts’ claim that she danced with the father-of-two in the capital’s Tramp night club insisting the Duke is “teetotal”.
However, the new pictures show the prince leaving celeb haunt Chinawhite club – proving that he still frequented night spots in the city.
Mum-of-three Ms Roberts, 36, who now lives in Australia, previously told the Mail on Sunday that she asked to have the picture, taken in early 2001, as a “keepsake”.
The photo is said to have been taken in Ms Maxwell’s Knightsbridge mews house near Harrods – and a Google image of the property appears to show the design of windows matches the notorious snap.
Ms Roberts claims that she was woken up on day she first met Andrew by a “giddy” Maxwell who allegedly told her: “Get up, get up, sleepyhead. You’ve got a big day.
“We’ve gotta go shopping. You need a dress because you’re going to dance with a prince tonight.”
Ms Roberts said that after Andrew arrived with his security guards Maxwell asked the prince to guess Virginia’s age.
‘SEX SLAVE’ CLAIMS
She said: “…he guessed 17 and they all kind of laughed about it and Ghislaine made a joke that I was getting too old for Jeffrey.”
The alleged sex slave claims that Andrew could not take his eyes off her during dinner before they danced together at the nightclub.
She then alleges the pair took a bath together back at Maxwell’s property before they “made love.”
Ms Roberts claims Epstein paid her £10,000 the following day – although there is no suggestion that Andrew knew about the alleged payment.
DUKE’S DENIALS
A spokesperson for Andrew denied Ms Roberts’ claims saying: “It is emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts.”
Prince Andrew released a statement this week condemning his former pal.
Buckingham Palace said the Duke of York would help authorities in any investigations into the disgraced millionaire.
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Andrew said: “It is apparent to me since the suicide of Mr Epstein that there has been an immense amount of media speculation about so much in his life.
“This is particularly the case in relation to my former association or friendship with Mr Epstein. Therefore I am eager to clarify the facts to avoid further speculation.
“I met Mr Epstein in 1999. During the time I knew him, I saw him infrequently and probably no more than only once or twice a year. I have stayed in a number of his residences.
“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.”
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