Prince Andrew had ‘daily massages’ when visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, according to housekeeper
Prince Andrew had daily massages when he spent “weeks” at Jeffrey Epstein’s Florida home, according to the billionaire’s former housekeeper in court documents that been have revealed.
The newly-released papers include the transcript of a video interview with Juan Alessi, who worked at the paedophile financier’s Palm Beach residence.
The unsealing of the first batch of documents caused the court’s website to crash earlier this week, but much of the content repeats information that was already in the public domain.
In a video-taped interview under oath in 2009, Mr Alessi faced questions on Epstein’s relationship with the Duke of York and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson.
Jeffrey Epstein took his own life in prison in 2019. Pic: AP
Mr Alessi said he believes the Duchess of York visited the Florida estate “only once and for a short time” but identified Andrew as someone who “spent weeks with us”.
When asked if he would “frequently have massages”, Mr Alessi replied: “I would say, daily massages.”
Andrew stepped back from public life amid a furore over his friendship with Epstein in November 2019.
He was then cast out of the working monarchy and stripped of his HRH title when Virginia Giuffre accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. He strenuously denies any wrongdoing.
The third and fourth batches of documents with details on Epstein’s sexual abuse of teenage girls includes a total of 73 exhibits.
The third tranche consists of 411 pages and the fourth totals 649.
The papers were part of a lawsuit filed by Ms Giuffre against Epstein‘s former girlfriend and long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The lawsuit was settled in 2017.
Included in the newly-released claims was a transcript of a 2016 video-taped interview with Maxwell by Ms Giuffre’s lawyer Sigrid McCawley that showed the disgraced socialite saying she did not know how Epstein met the duke and insisting she did not introduce them.
The deposition saw Maxwell describe Ms Giuffre’s alleged meetings with Andrew as a “tissue of lies”.
Ms McCawley asked Maxwell: “Did you introduce him to Jeffrey?” She responded: “That would be another of Virginia’s lies and the lies you perpetrate. I never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein at any time ever.”
Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell, pictured in a photo believed to have been taken in 2001. Pic: Rex/Shutterstock
Maxwell admitted there was a Duke of York puppet in Epstein’s New York apartment.
Andrew was accused by Johanna Sjoberg of groping her breast while posing with what is reported to have been a Spitting Image puppet of himself in Epstein’s Manhattan home in 2001.
In evidence that emerged this week, Ms Sjoberg said: “They decided to take a picture with it, in which Virginia and Andrew sat on a couch.
“They put the puppet on Virginia’s lap, and I sat on Andrew’s lap, and they put the puppet’s hand on Virginia’s breast, and Andrew put his hand on my breast, and they took a photo.”
Johanna Sjoberg has accused Prince Andrew of touching her breast in 2001. Pic: ANL/Shutterstock
Maxwell was asked if she put the caricature’s hand on Ms Sjoberg’s breast – to which she replied that she “did not recollect anything around the puppet”.
The documents are sprinkled with the names of celebrities and politicians who socialised or worked with Epstein in the years before accusations against him became public.
The third set of documents include photocopies of Epstein’s assistant’s notepad, revealing Harvey Weinstein – who was exposed as a sexual predator in October 2017 – once called the paedophile financier.
He also received a call from the wife of former Victoria’s Secret chief executive Les Wexner “to talk about something private”, the documents reveal.
They also show that lawyers hunting for information on Maxwell’s computer searched for words including “Prince” and “Andrew” as well as the terms “masturbate” and “nipple”.
More from Sky News:
Why the court docs are being released now
All the names mentioned in the Epstein docs so far
Officers specifically searched Maxwell’s computer for information on Prince Andrew
Andrew has found himself back in the spotlight though, as the second release included testimony from Ms Sjoberg claiming he touched her breast.
Buckingham Palace has previously said the allegations are “categorically untrue”.
Other notable names mentioned are Stephen Hawking, Michael Jackson and Bill Clinton but their inclusion does not mean they are accused of wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, the King is reportedly preparing to withdraw private funding for the security operation at the Duke of York’s home.
The Telegraph said Andrew will have to fund the multi-million pound security costs at Royal Lodge himself if he wants to stay in the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park. Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an elderly couple died following a fire at their home in St Helens.
Peter Eric Greener, 77, known as Eric, and his partner Sheila Jackson, 83, were caught in the blaze at their home on South John Street in the early hours of Tuesday.
Mr Greener died on Wednesday, while Ms Jackson died on Thursday.
Eric Greener. Pic: Merseyside Police
Sheila Jackson. Pic: Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police said an accelerant was used to start the fire.
On Sunday, the force said the suspect from St Helens had been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody for questioning.
Read more from Sky News:
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Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: “Although an arrest has been made, I would like to take this opportunity to remind people to pass on information directly to police or anonymously via Crimestoppers, and not to comment or post in any way which jeopardises this ongoing work.”
DS Wilson said “extensive enquiries” continue.
She added: “And to that end we are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward, particularly if you live in the area of South John Street and recall seeing or hearing anything suspicious at around the time of the incident.
“Please do not assume what you know has already been reported to us, as we can quickly make that assessment.”
UK
How e-bike riders are doing double the speed limit – and many of them work for fast food delivery firms
It’s lunchtime on Birmingham’s New Street.
Close to its many restaurants, food delivery riders are congregating on their bikes.
The area is packed with shoppers and workers.
PC Paige Gartlan is approaching with other officers. She’s on the lookout for illegally modified e-bikes – and she knows she’ll find them here.
“You can physically tell by looking at the bike that it’s generally going to be illegal – the battery pack is taped on to the sides and generally the size of the motor that’s on the back wheel,” she explains.
Sky News has been invited on an operation by West Midlands Police to find these bikes and get them off the streets.
PC Gartlan has been hit by one before. She’s had to tackle a rider to the floor after he drove into her.
Within minutes, she’s spotted a suspicious-looking bike. The rider makes a run for it – followed by plain-clothed officers.
PC Gartlan tests the bike – it’s showing a top speed of 52km/hr on the speedometer – just over 30mph.
PC Paige Gartlan with a seized e-bike
The speed limit for e-bikes in the UK is 15.5mph when using electric power for assistance.
I look up the street and another two riders have been detained. In less than an hour, officers have confiscated four bikes – all were being ridden by fast food delivery drivers.
The commotion is attracting a lot of attention.
“They are dangerous,” Sandra, who has just finished work, tells me.
Demoz had his bike taken by police
She’s stood watching the riders being questioned. She says she’s had near-misses herself and is worried for the safety of the elderly and children.
It’s not just West Midlands police officers here – immigration officials are carrying out checks too. They’re involved in a nationwide operation, which has seen more than 7,000 arrests in the last year – a 50% increase on last year.
Matthew Foster, the immigration enforcement lead officer for the West Midlands, tells me they’ve already found one individual who has entered the UK unlawfully.
“He’s been detained,” he says, “to affect his removal from the UK.”
Further down the street, police are loading illegally modified bikes on to a van – they’re destined to be crushed. One of them had belonged to Demoz.
Read more:
Non-folding e-bikes banned on London Tube
E-bike and e-scooter crimes soar 730% in five years
An e-bike seized by West Midlands Police
He’s on his way home, carrying a big box with the logo of one of the main fast food delivery firms on it.
He tells me he used to have an illegal bike, but he thought his new one was legal.
“I make a mistake, I have to say sorry, I will do better for the future,” he says.
I get in touch with the big delivery firms; Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat.
Their representatives say they constantly remind workers of their safety obligations, and that they’re all working closely with the government to increase security checks on riders.
As he leaves, Demoz, now bike-free, tells me he’s thinking of changing his job.
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