Prince Andrew’s Lobbying for Jeffrey Epstein During Royal UAE Visit Revealed
Newly surfaced emails have brought to light Prince Andrew’s efforts to champion his controversial associate, Jeffrey Epstein, during an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) alongside the late Queen. The former Duke of York, who held the position of the UK’s trade envoy at the time, reportedly sent a message to Epstein shortly after a meeting with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s foreign minister, in November 2010.
The unearthed correspondence, originating from an email address labelled ‘The Duke’ and signed off as ‘A’, indicates Andrew’s intention to facilitate a meeting between Epstein and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was then the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The message read: “Hey! You are in big time. He thinks you are great and would like to introduce you to Sheikh Mohammed [sic], the Crown Prince. I will discuss further and report back.” This exchange took place on a day when Andrew was part of a high-profile state visit to the UAE, accompanied by the late Queen, Prince Philip, and the then-foreign secretary, William Hague. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan assumed the presidency of the UAE in 2022, and his family is recognised as one of the wealthiest globally, with assets estimated to exceed £1 trillion.
The fallout from this revelation suggests a pattern of Prince Andrew leveraging state-funded engagements to promote his associates. Later on the same day the email was sent, Epstein reportedly replied to Andrew, proposing a joint holiday and expressing his willingness to return to Abu Dhabi. This further fuels claims that Andrew used his official capacity to advocate for Epstein, a figure who was eventually convicted of sex trafficking and soliciting prostitution from a minor.
These newly released emails, originating from files disclosed by the US Department of Justice, add another layer to the public scrutiny surrounding Prince Andrew’s past associations. It is understood that Epstein had met with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan independently, shortly before the Duke’s state visit. In October 2010, Epstein had allegedly sent an email to Andrew, outlining potential arguments to persuade Sheikh Abdullah of his value. These points included “1 trust, 2 financial expertise, 3 funder of extreme science (way out there), 4 fun.”
The implications of these revelations have drawn sharp criticism. Graham Smith, from the campaign group Republic, commented on the matter, stating, “This revelation adds to the wider picture of Andrew having no judgment and no moral compass. It also raises more questions about his relationship with Middle Eastern rulers and dictators. Andrew was under great public scrutiny at the time, but the fact is, he has never concerned himself with criticism from other people. He just brushed it off and thought, I can do what I want.”
A History of Favourable Treatment and Scrutiny
Prince Andrew’s role as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, a position that earned him the moniker “Air Miles Andy” due to his extensive international travel, saw him make frequent visits to the UAE. His connection with the ruling family dates back to his school days, having been friends with the Crown Prince for many years.
During the 2010 visit, Andrew’s official duties included welcoming his mother upon her arrival. However, this trip also brought him under considerable criticism for accepting a £1 million golfing and holiday villa in Abu Dhabi from the oil-rich Gulf nation’s royal family.
Sources described the gifted four-bedroom townhouse as a “heavily gilded mini-palace,” which he was reportedly free to use at his leisure. Critics at the time decried this arrangement as a “clear conflict of interest.” In response to earlier scrutiny regarding his ties with the UAE, Prince Andrew had stated, “There is a long-standing relationship between the UAE and the United Kingdom which reaches back over 40 years. A lot of work has gone on in the intervening period. There’s been an increased level of concern for this particular region in terms of investment, in terms of business opportunities. This has been reciprocated by the UAE and other countries in the region.”
Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor and served a 13-month sentence as part of an 18-month term, which included a work-release programme. The emails exchanged between Andrew and Epstein concerning dealings in the UAE would have occurred shortly after Epstein’s release from prison.
Prince Andrew was compelled to relinquish his royal duties in 2019, and in the following year, he was stripped of his honorary military titles and royal patronages as a consequence of his association with the convicted sex offender. It is important to note that there has been no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan or Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in relation to these revelations. A representative for Prince Andrew did not respond to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
