Prince Andrew’s Emails Reveal Efforts to Connect Jeffrey Epstein with UAE Royalty
Newly released emails from the US department of Justice reveal that Prince Andrew, Duke of York, actively vouched for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a 2010 UK state visit to the United Arab Emirates, and discussed potential workarounds to investment restrictions with the disgraced financier. The correspondence, dating back over a decade, sheds further light on the duke’s relationship with Epstein and raises questions about potential conflicts of interest during his tenure as a UK trade envoy.
The emails center around a November 24, 2010, message from “The Duke” to Epstein, with the subject line simply reading “Abdullah” – an apparent reference to Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, the UAE’s foreign affairs minister.”You are in big time,” the Duke wrote, according to the released documents. “He thinks you are great and would like to introduce you to Sheikh Mohammed, the Crown Prince.” The Duke indicated that an introduction to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and now the President of the UAE, might not be possible before the end of the year, but pledged to “discuss further and report back.”
This exchange occurred during a high-profile trip to the UAE alongside Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and then-UK Foreign Secretary william Hague. Just weeks prior, on November 7, 2010, Epstein himself emailed the Duke, stating, “I met with both abdulla -aby dhabi, and mahammed -dubai [sic] today.” This suggests Epstein was actively cultivating relationships with key figures in the UAE goverment.
The correspondence doesn’t stop at introductions. Epstein appears to have actively coached the Duke on how to present him to Sheikh Abdullah, outlining desired qualities to emphasize. According to one email, Epstein instructed the Duke to highlight his “trust,” “financial expertise,” status as a “funder of extreme science,” and the fact that he was “fun” to be around.
Adding a layer of intrigue, Epstein responded to the Duke’s initial email with a suggestion for a personal getaway. “Ask Abdullah for a date when we can all go on vacation,” he wrote, hinting at a desire to further solidify the relationship through leisure activities.
The released emails also reveal discussions about potential investments. In a May 2010 exchange – while Epstein was under house arrest following a guilty plea for soliciting a minor for prostitution – the Duke appeared to reference a prior phone call regarding investments and the limitations placed on him as a special representative for UK trade and investment, a role he held from 2001 to 2011. He wrote to Epstein, “So long as I delegate any duty to invest then there are no problems.so Trusts are delegated responsibility as to [too] are any Banks or Investment Vehicles or for that matter Trusted individuals.” This suggests the Duke was exploring ways to circumvent restrictions on personal business dealings while still serving in his official capacity.
The US Department of Justice has clarified that the emails do not imply any wrongdoing on the part of Prince Andrew, but they do raise ethical questions about his judgment and the appropriateness of his interactions with a convicted sex offender. The emails were unsealed as part of a lawsuit brought by victims of Epstein.
Why: The release of these emails aims to provide transparency regarding Prince Andrew’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and potential conflicts of interest.
Who: Key figures involved include Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Jeffrey Epstein; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
What: The emails reveal Prince Andrew actively promoted Epstein to UAE royalty and discussed potential ways to navigate investment restrictions.
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