The unveiling of a previously unseen photograph featuring the notorious Spitting Image puppet of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, purportedly used inappropriately with Virginia Giuffre, has been described as a “partial vindication” for her and another alleged victim. This claim was made today following the photo’s release.

A royal insider has expressed concern that this startling image, now part of the Epstein Files, should be a cause for significant alarm for both Andrew and Buckingham Palace. “There remains a real threat that potential legal actions involving some of Epstein’s victims are not yet behind Andrew,” the source told the Mail, emphasizing, “This is a scandal that refuses to fade away.”

Andrew has consistently denied all allegations of inappropriate conduct with Epstein’s accusers and maintains that he has committed no wrongdoing whatsoever.

For over 15 years, Johanna Sjoberg has stood by her account, alleging that the disgraced former Duke of York utilized a Spitting Image latex puppet, fashioned in his likeness, to grope Virginia Giuffre, who was a teenager at the time and seated beside her. According to Ms. Sjoberg, Andrew allegedly placed his hand on her breast at Epstein’s residence in New York. Virginia later claimed she believed the puppet was also used to touch Johanna’s breasts.

Johanna Sjoberg has for the past 15 years said consistently that the disgraced former Duke of York used a Spitting Image latex puppet modelled on him to grope his other accuser, Virginia Giuffre, who was a teenager at the time and sat next to her. 

He allegedly put his hand on her breast in Epstein’s New York home, according to Ms Sjoberg, while Virginia insisted later that she believed that the puppet was also used to touch Johanna’s breasts.

The infamous latex puppet of Andrew can be seen propped up on a sofa in the background of a photograph showing convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell

The picture is part of a trove of 300,000 documents released on Friday. It is ‘partial-vindication’ for Virginia Giuffre and Johanna Sjoberg, one royal source claims

Johanna Sjoberg (pictured in 2007) says Prince Andrew groped her breast – and Virginia Giuffre’s with the puppet

Ms Sjoberg claimed Ghislaine Maxwell took a photo of the two women being groped in 2001 – but said she never saw the picture.

And while that alleged image has never seen the light of day, a picture of the infamous latex puppet in the New York mansion of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has emerged in the so-called Epstein Files.

The puppet is seen propped up on a sofa in the background of a photograph showing convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

The Daily Mail asked Ms Sjoberg to comment on the photo.

But the release of the picture of the doll, taken in the mansion where she claimed the sexual assault happened, propped behind the woman she accused of grooming her, is ‘partial-vindication’ for her and Virginia, one royal insider told the Daily Mail today.

‘This picture of the puppet seems to at least partially vindicate the late Virginia Giuffre and Johanna Sjoberg’s accounts of the time they spent with Andrew. That must be a cause for concern.

‘The steady drip, drip of photographs and documentation emerging from the Epstein files is creating a real headache for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and for the Royal Household’.

Ghislaine Maxwell was jailed for 20 years in 2022 for helping Epstein abuse young girls, and wears a flight suit in the newly released photo.

The picture of her larking around in front of Andrew’s puppet is part of a trove of 300,000 documents released on Friday, which also includes depraved scenes from the vile tycoon’s mansions and countless images of naked young women.

It is alleged that Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles this year, used the puppet to grope Ms Giuffre, then aged 17, as well as Ms Sjoberg, then 21, in the study of Epstein’s £60million Manhattan home.

Ms Giuffre, who claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, wrote in her book that ‘when Andrew cupped my breast with a doll made in his image, I only giggled away’.

Ms Sjoberg testified to the alleged incident in a 2016 legal deposition, where she described how Andrew and Ms Giuffre were sitting on a couch with the puppet.

‘And so then I sat on Andrew’s lap – and I believe on my own volition – and they took the puppet’s hands and put it on Virginia’s breast, and so Andrew put his on mine,’ she said.

Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts, aged 17, and Ghislaine Maxwell at Maxwell’s townhouse in London on March 13, 2001. Virginia claimed that Andrew guessed her age and justified the correct choice by saying: ‘My daughters are just a little younger than you’

Ms Giuffre was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell

Andrew has strenuously and repeatedly denied having sex with Ms Giuffre and any other wrongdoing.

Ms Sjoberg began working for Epstein in 2001, and according to her evidence was immediately forced to perform sex acts. 

Her friend Ms Giuffre had been recruited by Maxwell the year before, in 2000, while she was working at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. 

When Virginia was found dead in May, Johanna released a poignant statement saying it could have been ‘any’ of Epstein’s victims due to his abuse.

She said: ‘Suicide, drugs and overdose, prostitution, prison.

‘I can, with full certainty, say that it is only by the Grace of God I’ve found a different path.

‘My faith, my family, and friendships get me through each day.” It’s not about me, but it is about me, how it could have been me, could have been any of us, really,’ she said.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was seen with a solemn expression on his face as he drove his Land Rover defender out of Royal Lodge yesterday

Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles last month, is seen sprawling across the laps of five elegantly dressed women, while Ghislaine Maxwell lurks in the background

Johanna Sjoberg said in 2019 that she was willing to testify under oath against Andrew if it helped the FBI investigate the royal’s long friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.  

A source said at the time: ‘As a victim of Epstein, Sjoberg’s testimony over how she was recruited and abused is vital to the FBI.

‘Despite Epstein’s suicide, they are ­determined all those who enabled his crimes will face justice. It is a promise they made to the victims.

‘Andrew has had serious allegations made against him and agents are determined that a person’s standing in life does not make them immune from being ­questioned.’