The Giuffre family is breathing a sigh of relief after a bombshell email revealed that Ghislaine Maxwell confirmed the authenticity of a long-debated photo showing Virginia Giuffre with Prince Andrew.
For years, the former royal had insisted the image was fake, using that claim as a cornerstone in his 2019 Newsnight interview.
Now, Maxwell’s correspondence leaves little room for doubt.
Sky Roberts, Virginia’s brother, told BBC Newsnight, “This truly does vindicate my sister.
It proves she was telling the truth all along, even when so many across multiple countries doubted her.”
He added that the confirmation—specifically that the photo was taken in Maxwell’s home—was a moment of pride and a reminder to believe survivors of abuse.
Emotional Reflections From Family
Virginia’s sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, spoke emotionally about the whirlwind of revelations following the release of the so-called Epstein Files by the US Department of Justice.
“I’ve felt such overwhelming emotion,” she said.
“I wish she were here to see this. She fought so hard, and her strength was incredible.”
The family emphasized their hope that Prince Andrew will face criminal consequences for his alleged actions.
Maxwell’s Email Blows the Pizza Express Alibi Apart
The newly unearthed email from Maxwell, part of over three million Epstein-related documents released by the DOJ, confirms that Prince Andrew did meet Giuffre at Maxwell’s house in London.
Maxwell wrote that she was “stating for the record as fact” that she introduced Andrew to Virginia and that the photograph was taken that night.
This revelation undermines the former duke’s infamous claim that he was at a Pizza Express in Woking at the time.
In his 2019 Newsnight interview, he insisted the Woking outing was a “very unusual thing” for him to do, citing it as a reason he would remember it years later.
Maxwell’s Defense Strategy
The emails, written in 2015, show Maxwell drafting statements intended to counter media reports of allegations against her.
She requested approval from Jeffrey Epstein for her wording and insisted the photograph of Andrew and Giuffre had been taken in her home.
While she denied any knowledge of sexual activity between Andrew and Virginia, her statements contradict previous denials that the meeting ever occurred.
Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s trafficking ring, framed the allegations against her as lies aimed at financial gain.
She wrote that the media harassment endured by her, Alan Dershowitz, and Andrew had become “intolerable” and emphasized that she intended to refer the matter to the Press Complaints Commission.
Giuffre’s Legal Battle and Legacy
Virginia Giuffre, who tragically passed away at 41, had spent years fighting to expose those who abused her.
The family reiterated her unwavering commitment to telling the truth, documenting her experiences, and reporting the perpetrators to authorities.
“Four of the abusers she named are now in prison, dead, or have become pariahs,” the family said.
They expressed hope that Andrew will face legal consequences and emphasized that more details about other abusers may emerge as additional Epstein files are released.
The Photo That Sparked Controversy
The photograph in question shows Andrew holding Virginia, then 17, in Maxwell’s London home.
Both Andrew and Maxwell had attempted to discredit the image, with Andrew claiming he never met her and Maxwell asserting it was fake.
Despite these denials, Andrew paid Giuffre millions to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022.
Virginia had alleged that Epstein took the photograph on a disposable camera before she and Andrew went to dinner and Tramp nightclub.
She also stated she was forced to have sexual encounters with Andrew at Maxwell’s house, Epstein’s Manhattan residence, and his private Caribbean island, Little St. James.
Fallout for Prince Andrew
These revelations add to Andrew’s already considerable public humiliation over his ties to Epstein.
The former royal has been stripped of military titles and patronages and forced, along with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, out of the Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate.
With Maxwell’s email confirming the meeting and the photograph’s authenticity, the former duke faces fresh scrutiny over his conduct and legal accountability.
