Photo of Andrew lying on laps at Sandringham in new Epstein files

A photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying on a woman’s lap is one of thousands of Epstein files released by the US Justice Department.

In the photo, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell hovers in the background as she smiles at the former prince. The photograph appears to have been taken in the salon room of Sandringham, the royal estate of Norfolk.

The revelation of the photo will increase scrutiny of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his remaining titles and honors because of his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.

Two of the photos show Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson with women whose faces are covered with black squares.

Representatives for Ms. Ferguson declined to comment.

Mere appearance in photos or documents is not evidence of wrongdoing.

A heavily-redacted tranche of some of the so-called Epstein files – long-awaited documents related to the US Justice Department’s investigation into Epstein – were released on Friday night.

The documents were highly anticipated after Congress passed a law requiring the full release of the files by December 19.

They feature the interiors of Epstein’s homes, his trips abroad and photographs of celebrities including US President Bill Clinton, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Michael Jackson. There was no trace of President Donald Trump in the files.

Many of those identified in other releases, including President Trump, have denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

In the undated photo of Andrew, the former prince – now 65 – looks much younger. He is smiling with his eyes closed.

The faces of those accompanying him, who are seated in front of a grand fireplace, are colored in with black squares.

In another picture he is seen with Epstein and Maxwell at Royal Ascot.

Also in the files are undated photographs of Maxwell standing outside the doors of 10 Downing Street.

She is alone in the photo and the photo is accompanied by no context as to why she is there or when the photo was taken.

The issue of Andrew’s friendship with Epstein has continued to trouble the royals.

The king stripped his younger brother of his princely title after weeks of intense pressure over his links with a pedophile financier.

She is also expected to move out of her Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge, soon.

It comes after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – as he is now known – gave up his other royal titles, including Duke of York, following more questions and allegations about his personal life.

Earlier this year, emails revealed that he had been in contact with Epstein for a longer period of time than he had previously admitted.

In a posthumous memoir published in October, Virginia Giuffre – a prominent Epstein accuser – repeated allegations that, as a teenager, she had sex with Andrew on three separate occasions. Andrew has always vehemently denied the claims.

Andrew has also faced calls from Democrats in the US Congress to testify to the committee investigating Epstein’s activities. He had not responded to the request by the end of last month’s deadline.

Separately, two photographs of Ms Ferguson – then the Duchess of York – have emerged in the document dump.

In one, she is seen standing on the sidewalk next to an unidentified woman carrying shopping bags. In the second, she is sitting cross-legged on a green sofa.

Ms Ferguson also faced her own Epstein controversy earlier this year, after a 2011 email revealed she called him her “best friend”.

Several charities removed the then Duchess of York as patron or ambassador after the emails surfaced, in which she also appeared to apologize for their public criticism.

The sweeping cuts have been criticized by Democrats for violating transparency laws.

But the White House says the Trump administration is “the most transparent in history” as the DOJ says it “erred in taking steps to protect victims.”