A newly released black-and-white photograph from the Jeffrey Epstein files, published by the US Department of Justice, has stunned the British public. The image shows former Prince Andrew—now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—reclining comfortably across the laps of five elegantly dressed women in the luxurious saloon room of Sandringham House, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s most cherished private estate. Standing behind, peering down with a smile, is Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted accomplice currently serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking. The faces of the women have been redacted with black squares to protect their identities.
The undated photo is believed to have been taken in December 2000 during a surprise birthday party Andrew hosted for Maxwell’s 39th birthday at Sandringham—a location deeply symbolic for the royal family. The saloon room, with its grand fireplace, is where the Windsors traditionally gather for afternoon tea on Christmas Eve and watch the monarch’s Christmas message the following day. Turning this sacred family space into a venue for intimate gatherings with Epstein’s circle has been described as a profound betrayal of royal privacy.
Reports from outlets including The Guardian, BBC, and The Telegraph confirm the image is part of a larger trove released in December 2025, alongside other photos showing Andrew with Epstein and Maxwell at Balmoral in 1999 and in the royal box at Ascot in 2000. These visuals underscore the extraordinary access Andrew granted to the disgraced pair, allowing them entry into Britain’s elite circles. Royal historian Andrew Lownie has called it a “blatant abuse of privilege,” noting that Andrew dismissed the 2000 Sandringham weekend as a “straightforward shooting weekend” in his infamous 2019 Newsnight interview.
The timing of the release—days before Christmas 2025, when King Charles III and the royal family are gathering at Sandringham—has intensified public outrage. Andrew, already stripped of his “Prince” title and most royal privileges earlier this year over his Epstein ties, is reportedly set to move to a smaller property on the estate after being evicted from Royal Lodge. Sources close to the palace describe the photo as “sordid” and a painful reminder of his fall from grace.
Buckingham Palace has remained silent, but experts suggest the late Queen may have been aware of such gatherings through security reports, yet chose protection for her son. This revelation compounds earlier scandals, including Andrew’s denied allegations of sexual assault from Virginia Giuffre and his continued contact with Epstein post-conviction.
How deeply did this dark relationship penetrate the heart of the monarchy? With thousands more Epstein documents under review, the photo not only tarnishes Andrew’s reputation further but casts a long shadow over the Windsors’ most treasured traditions. As the family
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