All the toe-curling claims about Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein
Prince Andrew’s name has remained tethered to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking network long after Epstein’s 2019 arrest and death in jail. Court records, depositions, and Virginia Giuffre’s published memoir have kept the allegations in circulation. Giuffre, who was 17 when she says she was directed to have sex with the Duke of York, described specific encounters that she said took place at Epstein’s properties. Those accounts resurfaced in later document releases and in her posthumous book. The details have never been tested in a criminal trial, and Andrew has denied every allegation of sexual contact.
A reminder of how Jeffrey Epstein is a horrible person
Jeffrey Epstein built a fortune in finance and used it to cultivate relationships with politicians, academics, and members of the British royal family. He was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges. He died in a Manhattan jail cell the following month; the medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. Ghislaine Maxwell, his longtime associate, was later convicted of recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein’s abuse. Virginia Giuffre, one of the women who accused both Epstein and Maxwell of exploitation, also named Prince Andrew in civil filings. Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025. Andrew settled her civil lawsuit in February 2022 without any admission of liability. Further Department of Justice file releases in 2025 and 2026 added emails, photographs, and references to Andrew that renewed public attention.
The Puppet
Giuffre’s unpublished manuscript, later echoed in her 2025 memoir Nobody’s Girl, described an episode involving a caricature puppet of Prince Andrew. The puppet originated from the British satirical series Spitting Image and had been given to Andrew by Epstein and Maxwell. Giuffre wrote that Maxwell arranged for a photograph in which Johanna Sjoberg, another woman who worked for Epstein, was also present. In a 2016 deposition, Sjoberg stated that she sat on Andrew’s lap while the puppet’s hands were placed on Giuffre’s breast and Andrew placed his hand on Sjoberg’s. Sjoberg’s account has remained consistent in subsequent document releases. Maxwell has referenced the puppet in her own statements but denied recalling the specific incident. The scene appears again in Giuffre’s published memoir.
The toes
Giuffre has stated that Prince Andrew showed a particular interest in her feet during the alleged encounters. In the memoir she described him as “particularly attentive to my feet,” caressing her toes and licking her arches. She characterized one encounter as lasting roughly ten minutes and called the experience the longest ten minutes of her life. She also wrote that Andrew appeared “entitled” during these interactions. Andrew has maintained categorical denials of any sexual contact with Giuffre throughout the civil proceedings and in subsequent public statements.
Andrew's 2022 Settlement and Ongoing Denials
In February 2022 the parties announced that Andrew had reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre. The agreement included a substantial donation to Giuffre’s charity and contained no admission of guilt. Andrew issued a statement expressing regret for his association with Epstein. The settlement carried a temporary gag order that expired in 2023. Giuffre did not pursue a criminal complaint in the United Kingdom, and no charges were filed against Andrew in connection with her allegations.
Virginia Giuffre's Death and Posthumous Memoir
Virginia Giuffre died by suicide on April 25, 2025, at age 41. Her memoir Nobody’s Girl was published in October 2025 by Alfred A. Knopf. The book expands on the allegations contained in the earlier unpublished manuscript and describes the same encounters with Prince Andrew, Epstein, and Maxwell. It became a bestseller and prompted additional media coverage of the Epstein network. The memoir does not introduce new criminal claims beyond those already aired in the 2022 civil case.
Renewed Scrutiny: 2025-2026 Epstein File Releases
Late 2025 and early 2026 brought large batches of previously sealed Epstein files from the Department of Justice. The releases contained hundreds of references to Andrew, along with emails and photographs. Some emails suggested communications continued after Andrew had publicly claimed to have severed ties with Epstein. One newly released image appeared to show Andrew kneeling over an unidentified woman. The documents did not include any new criminal charges against Andrew, but they intensified calls for further examination of his past relationship with Epstein.
Royal Title Stripping and 2026 Arrest
King Charles III removed Andrew’s remaining royal titles and privileges in October 2025. In February 2026 Andrew was arrested in the United Kingdom on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The allegation centered on claims that he had shared confidential trade information with Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy. Related government files were released in May 2026. Andrew has not been charged in connection with Giuffre’s allegations, and the 2026 arrest concerns separate matters.
The record now includes Giuffre’s published memoir, the 2022 settlement, the 2025 death of the principal accuser, and the later stripping of Andrew’s titles. Andrew continues to deny any sexual misconduct. The additional document releases and the 2026 arrest have kept the Epstein connection in the news, but the specific claims involving Giuffre remain untested in a criminal court.
