A recently unearthed photograph from the Jeffrey Epstein files captures Professor Stephen Hawking with a broad smile, flanked by two women in bikinis. The image, showcasing the Cambridge theoretical physicist, depicts them enjoying what seem to be fruity cocktails under the sun’s warm embrace.

The precise location and timing of the photograph remain uncertain, but speculation suggests it may have been taken on Epstein’s notorious Little Saint James Island, part of the US Virgin Islands.

In 2006, Hawking was among a group of 21 esteemed scientists who participated in a conference hosted by Epstein on both the island and nearby St. Thomas.

Further controversy arises from accusations made by the late Virginia Giuffre, an alleged victim of Epstein. She claimed in emails that Hawking was involved in an “underage orgy” on the island. These claims were part of a broader scandal surrounding Epstein’s activities.

Epstein vehemently denied these allegations. Court documents unveiled two years ago revealed that he may have directed his close associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, to offer financial incentives to Giuffre’s acquaintances in an effort to refute the accusations against Hawking.

Epstein furiously denied the allegation and appears to have instructed his associate Ghislaine Maxwell to offer money to Giuffre’s friends if they could help disprove the claims against Hawking, according to court documents made public two years ago.

Hawking, who died in March 2018 aged 76 after living for more than 50 years with motor neuron disease (ALS), was hosted by Epstein in March 2006, five months before the financier was charged for the first time with soliciting prostitution.

He is referenced at least 250 times in the Epstein Files, a search of the trove of documents released by the Department of Justice (DoJ) revealed. There is no suggestion that Hawking’s appearance in the documents implies any wrongdoing.

 Professor Stephen Hawking was seen grinning from ear to ear as he sat sandwiched between two bikini-clad women in a photo released in the Jeffrey Epstein files

Hawking was among the global A-listers who were alleged to have passed through Epstein’s 74-acre Little St James Island in the US Virgin Islands

Epstein was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City on August 10, 2019

Pictures that emerged in 2015 showed the celebrated physicist in his wheelchair attending a barbecue. 

He was later given a submarine tour of the seabed around Epstein’s island. 

The pedophile had modified the vessel especially for Hawking, who had never been underwater before.

The conference was held at the five-star, $1,600-per-night Ritz-Carlton hotel on the island of St Thomas, close to Little Saint James.

A post on the blog of the ‘Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation’ included details about the conference, called ‘The Energy of Empty Space That Isn’t Zero’.

It stated that guests ‘could meet, discuss, relax on the beach, and take a trip to the nearby private island retreat of the science philanthropist Jeffrey Epstein, who funded the event’.

Guests appeared to have split their time between St Thomas and Little Saint James, where Epstein personally hosted them.

Epstein was said to surround himself with prominent scientists and called himself a ‘science philanthropist’.

Hawking during the 2006 Energy of Empty Space That Isn’t Zero conference, hosted by Epstein in the US Virgin Islands

During the 2006 trip, Hawking was given a submarine tour of the seabed around Epstein’s island. The pedophile modified the submarine especially for Hawking 

Epstein appears to have instructed his associate Ghislaine Maxwell to offer money to Virginia Giuffre’s friends if they could help disprove the ‘underage orgy’ claims against Hawking 

He made large donations to scientific causes and, at one stage, was allegedly giving as much as $20million a year to fund scientists.

Many of the scientists and researchers distanced themselves after his arrest.

The New York Times reported that Epstein was fixated on ‘transhumanism’ – a belief that the human species can be deliberately advanced through technological breakthroughs such as genetic engineering and artificial intelligence.

It was reported that Epstein would sometimes steer conversations to be about how to improve the human race genetically.

He reportedly told people that he wanted to impregnate as many women as he could to distribute his genes.

FBI officials also received another unsubstantiated tip-off alleging that Epstein visited an ‘all male gay club’ with Hawking in 2011, according to files released by the DoJ.

The tipster described the venue as a ‘bath house’ and told officials in 2019 that ‘he was watching the news lately and saw prominent men [who] were at the club in 2011’.

‘He said at the time he had no idea who they were. Stated there is lots of behavior that goes on there,’ the report outlined. 

FBI officials also received another unsubstantiated tip-off alleging that Epstein visited an ‘all male gay club’ with the Hawking in 2011

‘He said Epstein and Steven Hawking [sic] were there, as well as some Russian liaisons. He has recognized them from the news.’

The report described how the caller ‘was near tears’ when he said ‘it wasn’t just girls that were affected by Epstein’. 

The DoJ has released more than 3.5 million documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 

Officials have identified more than 6 million documents related to the pedophile, but will not be releasing the complete trove.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Hawking’s estate for comment.