A recently surfaced email from the latest Epstein files suggests a notorious photo of the former Prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault, is indeed authentic. For years, Andrew has denied having met Giuffre and questioned the legitimacy of the photograph.

The correspondence, made public by the US Justice Department, is labeled as a “draft statement” and was sent by someone identified as “G Maxwell” to Jeffrey Epstein in 2015. The email states, “In 2001, I was in London when [redacted] met several friends of mine, including Prince Andrew. A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family,” which seemingly corroborates the photo’s authenticity.

Virginia Giuffre, who passed away last April at her family home in Western Australia, had long maintained her claims against Andrew. Her family believes the released email serves as vindication for Giuffre, affirming her allegations and the authenticity of the controversial photograph.

“In 2001 I was in London when (redacted) met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew. A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family,” she wrote.

Giuffre died last April at her family home in Western Australia.

Her family says that the email showed Giuffre had been “vindicated”.

“It truly does vindicate Virginia… she was not lying this entire time”, Guiffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, said.

“It’s a moment where we’re really proud of our sister”, he added.

US officials redacted the person’s name from the released version of the statement, but the details point to Maxwell , who was convicted of recruiting young girls into sex trafficking, discussing Giuffre.

During a 2019 interview with the BBC, Mountbatten-Windsor denied meeting Giuffre and suggested the photo may have been faked.

He said at the time: “Nobody can prove whether or not that photograph has been doctored but I don’t recollect that photograph ever being taken.”

He also famously claimed he was not at Maxwell’s house but at a pizza restaurant in the town of Woking, south-west of London.

The former Prince Andrew has moved out of his longtime home on crown-owned land near Windsor Castle earlier than expected after the latest release of the Epstein files.

The 65-year-old brother of King Charles III, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, left the Royal Lodge in Windsor on Monday and is now living on the king’s Sandringham estate in eastern England, Britain’s Press Association reported.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.