Prince Andrew's long-standing association with Jeffrey Epstein has come under renewed scrutiny following fresh allegations from a former associate who claims the British royal appeared deeply integrated into Epstein's social circle during a 2010 visit to New York.
The account, reported in recent coverage, centers on a Russian model who said she spent several years within Epstein's orbit and was present at his Manhattan townhouse when Andrew visited in December 2010. Her recollections, while unverified independently, add to a body of testimony that continues to shape public perception of the relationship between the disgraced financier and high-profile figures.
Describing the atmosphere inside the townhouse, the woman said, "With Andrew it was very informal, like family." She added that Epstein himself would joke about the royal's place within the group, saying, "[Jeffrey Epstein] even used to say; 'We should adopt Andrew into our family.' Andrew was so nice, he fit in so well. But everything felt very family-like."
The characterization raises questions that have persisted for years about the nature of Andrew's association with Epstein, particularly given the latter's criminal history. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has maintained that he was unaware of Epstein's alleged activities.
The witness account also highlights broader concerns about the environment surrounding Epstein's social network. Reflecting on her own experience, she said, "Everyone thought I was a teenager altogether; I look very young." She then questioned the circumstances more directly: "So, what were we all doing there? And if he [Andrew] didn't have any such questions, that's strange."
Her remarks go beyond personal recollection, touching on the perceived influence of elite figures within Epstein's circle. "At the time, he [Andrew] seemed just so cool, so pleasant, but in fact, people of his level legitimised someone like Jeffrey Epstein," she said. "And if a British prince is a guest at such a person's house, and you're like a girl from nowhere... who am I to judge someone like JE, when the British prince himself visits his house, jokes around?"
The renewed attention arrives amid continued fallout for Andrew, who has faced a sustained decline in public standing. Once a senior member of the British royal family, he stepped back from official duties following a widely criticized 2019 interview and later reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre in 2022, without admitting liability.
In subsequent years, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages, reflecting an effort by the monarchy under King Charles III to distance the institution from the controversy. He is now commonly referred to as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in legal and public contexts.
Additional allegations referenced in the report suggest further legal and personal complications, including claims related to the handling of official travel documents during his tenure as the United Kingdom's trade envoy. Details surrounding those claims remain contested and have not been fully adjudicated.
Royal biographer Andrew Lownie described Andrew's current circumstances as markedly diminished, stating he is "stuck" at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate. Lownie added, "I hear he's not even allowed to go out the front door to go [horseback] riding," and said, "He used to go out [horseback] riding. He can't play golf but he watches videos."
