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Natasha Leake
A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein has accused Buckingham Palace of covering up the actions of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Jess Michaels, who was sexually assaulted by Epstein in 1991 when she was 22 years old, claimed the institution had failed to act on evidence that Mountbatten-Windsor had leaked confidential government information.
Speaking to the London Telegraph, Michaels accused the palace of protecting Mountbatten-Windsor after it had received emails six years ago showing he had shared sensitive government information with a business contact while he was a trade envoy.
“Six years ago, the palace knew Andrew wasn’t just a problem; he could face a criminal investigation. And they sat on it,” Michaels said in a statement to the Telegraph.
Michaels, who was a professional dancer in New York when Epstein assaulted her, added that the failure to act had wider moral consequences for survivors and others connected to the case.
“Protecting him meant doubting her. Virginia Roberts Giuffre was telling the truth, and she didn’t live to see them admit it. That breaks my heart, and it should break everyone’s,” she said.
“This is what institutions do. They protect powerful men and leave the people they harmed to carry it.”
Michaels said she was glad the UK was investigating Mountbatten-Windsor, describing it as “the very least they could do”.
“I’m glad the UK is finally investigating,” she said. “A little late, but it’s the very least they could do. Meanwhile, our own government named us as victims, shields the men who harmed us and still treats us like the problem.”
Mountbatten-Windsor’s association with Jeffrey Epstein has been the subject of sustained public and legal scrutiny for several years.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, claimed she had been trafficked to the then Prince Andrew when she was 17 years old.
In February, on his 66th birthday, Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he had passed sensitive government information to Epstein while working as a trade envoy.
Paperwork released as part of the Epstein files appears to show Mountbatten-Windsor forwarding official reports in November 2010 relating to trips to Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and China.
He denies all wrongdoing.
Court-related documents indicate Buckingham Palace was provided with large volumes of correspondence in 2020 that raised questions about Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct in public office.
According to the documents, the lord chamberlain, the palace’s most senior official, received a tranche of about 30,000 emails, including some relating to Mountbatten-Windsor.
‘The web grows ever darker, and we have got to address the issue of unaccountable power and also the abuse of power in high office.’
Rachell Maskell, Labour MP for York Central
The former prince is understood to have forwarded correspondence to Jonathan Rowland, a close friend and the former chief executive of Banque Havilland, during his time as a trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.
The emergence of these claims has increased scrutiny of the palace, how much was known about Mountbatten-Windsor at the time, and what action, if any, was taken over his actions.
Palace ‘has to be reviewed’
On Saturday, Labour MP Rachel Maskell called for a public inquiry, saying “the system built around the royal household has to be reviewed”, during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
“The web grows ever darker, and that is why we have got to address the issue of unaccountable power and also the abuse of power in high office,” Maskell said.
She said she wanted a joint committee of members from the House of Commons and House of Lords to be established to scrutinise the royal household.
When asked by the BBC about the emails, Buckingham Palace said: “Since there is an ongoing police inquiry concerning Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, it is not possible to provide any comment on these matters.”
Buckingham Palace declined to comment when contacted by the Telegraph.
The Telegraph, London
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