Jeffrey Epstein welcomed into Royal Ascot box with The Queen after Prince Andrew's invite
Prince Andrew invited paedophile Jeffrey Epstein into the Royal Box at Ascot alongside the late Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother. The discovery that the late sex offender was previously in the company of Her Majesty and her beloved mother comes as an even greater humiliation to the Royal Family than was initially understood.
A snap of Epstein, alongside the disgraced Duke of York and convicted teen sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, while inside the highly protected royal enclosure, took pride of place in the paedophile's 'House of Horrors'. The chilling snap, taken on Ladies Day' on June 22, 2000, shows Prince Andrew alongside the American financier and the disgraced British socialite in an invitation-only area strictly reserved for members of the monarchy and their guests.
The photo was uncovered during a search of Epstein's £60m Manhattan mansion, where underage girls were trafficked and abused. It was found in the residence's main corridor, surrounded by photographs of Epstein with other high profile figures including Mick Jagger, Sir Richard Branson and the Pope, the Mirror reports.
However, insiders say that Epstein treated Prince Andrew's photo - taken at one of Britain's most prestigious royal events - as a personal badge of legitimacy and protection.
A source said: 'This was no accident. That image was positioned to be seen. It was a clear statement of the access and influence Jeff had cultivated.
"He had it positioned in front of pictures with some of the world's most powerful and rich men; that is what his friendship with Andrew meant.
"Jeff wanted everyone and anyone to know he was connected to the royals. He joined Andrew on the day the Queen and her mother were there. He would tell anyone.'
The Manhattan property, where the picture was displayed, was not only Epstein's primary residence but also where Prince Andrew stayed while visiting New York.
Court documents, witness testimony and the royal's own words place the disgraced duke inside the house on multiple occasions.
It is also where Andrew's sex abuse accuser, Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life in April 2025, claimed she had sex with the royal at the behest of Epstein.
Prince Andrew repeatedly and vehemently denied her claims.
In 2019, Giuffre, the former 'teen sex slave' of Epstein's, sued the royal for the sexual abuse she claimed to have endured in Manhattan.
Facing a civil lawsuit in New York, Andrew decided to settle out of court in early 2022, reportedly paying Giuffre £12 million.
The payment came without any confession but it led to Andrew being dismissed from the Royal Family, including all of his royal patronages and military titles.
The Royal Ascot image of the trio has now raised fresh questions about the extent of Andrew's connection to Epstein.
The event, deeply associated with the monarchy, is very controlled, and access to the Royal Enclosure is highly restricted.
However, it is not the first time Epstein was welcomed into the royal fold.
The Duke of York brought shame upon the Firm after repeatedly inviting him into the monarch's homes.
In 1999, he was snapped relaxing with Maxwell at the Queen's beloved Balmoral residence, when the prince reportedly invited the couple to stay at the Scottish estate.
Epstein also attended Andrew's 40th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle in June 2000 at a formal gathering organised by the prince's mother, Queen Elizabeth.
The event welcomed Epstein into the very heart of the British monarchy with Andrew later admitting the disgraced financier was there at his personal request.
During his car crash 2019 Newsnight interview interview with Emily Maitlis, Andrew was directly challenged over Epstein's presence at the royal event.
Maitlis said: 'He was your guest, as well, in 2000. Epstein was a guest at Windsor Castle and at Sandringham. He was brought right into the heart of the Royal Family at your invitation.'
Andrew replied: 'Certainly at my invitation, not at the Royal Family's invitation. But remember that it was his girlfriend [Ghislaine Maxwell] that was the key element in this. He was the, as it were, plus one, to some extent in that aspect.'
That same year in December 2000, Andrew hosted a private shooting weekend at Sandringham, the monarch's Norfolk estate, in honour of Maxwell's birthday. Epstein was once again on the guest list.
When quizzed about this second gathering during the infamous interview, Andrew denied it was a birthday celebration, insisting: 'It was just a straightforward shooting weekend.'
The revelation that Epstein was present at not one but now three high-profile Royal Family events, all as Andrew's personal guest, raises further questions over the extent of the relationship between the Duke and the paedophile, who was later convicted of sex offences involving minors.
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Balmoral, Windsor Castle and Sandringham are all private royal residences which are not typically open to outsiders without explicit invitation.
Epstein's invitation to such venues on various occasions, particularly one hosted by the Queen herself, proves the level of trust and social acceptance he had within Andrew's inner circle at the time.
Epstein was initially convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution in 2008 but remained socially active among the elite for years after it.
Investigators believe he used his connections to shield himself from scrutiny and prosecution.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 and indicted on child trafficking charges, but took his own life as he awaited trial.
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