The US Justice Department on Friday removed more than 3 million documents from the Epstein files, including emails that showed Mountbatten-Windsor – brother of King Charles III – maintaining regular contact with Epstein more than two years after the US financier was found guilty of child sex crimes.
What did Keir Starmer say?
Asked whether Mountbatten-Windsor should answer questions from US lawmakers about her knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, Starmer said “yes”.
The British leader spoke to the media upon arriving in Japan at the conclusion of his East Asia tour.
“First and foremost, I always approach this question with Epstein’s victims in mind. Epstein’s victims should be given the first priority. Whether to apologize or not is Andrew’s business,” Starmer told reporters.
“But, yes, in terms of testifying, I’ve always said that anyone who’s got information should be willing to share that information in whatever form they’re asked to do because you can’t be victim-centered if you’re not willing to do that.”
The prime minister’s comments are likely to increase pressure on Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of her royal titles and honors by the king at the end of 2025.
Previously, Starmer had encouraged only “anyone who has relevant information” to testify in such cases.
In November, members of the US congressional committee investigating the Epstein case stepped up demands on Mountbatten-Windsor to answer questions.
Starmer then said it was “his decision” for the former prince to do so.
Epstein’s new files open a pot of trouble for the former prince
The latest Epstein documents show undated photos of Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over a woman lying on the floor.
No further context was provided for the images, in which both Andrew and the woman are wearing clothes.
It is also not clear where the photographs were taken.
Screenshots and scans also show Epstein’s emails, in which Mountbatten-Windsor proposed having dinner with a “beautiful, trusting” 26-year-old Russian woman.
It was not clear whether any meeting took place.
Andrew, Epstein and the royal fall
There has been renewed focus on Mountbatten-Windsor as she is reportedly set to vacate her 30-room mansion on the royal estate in Windsor after being evicted by her brother, the King.
British media on Saturday depicted the 65-year-old man driving through the grounds of the estate.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, has denied wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
However, Virginia Giuffre – an American and Australian citizen who died by suicide last year – alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor three times, including twice when she was 17.
In 2022, the former royal settled the multi-million pound lawsuit she filed — without admitting guilt.
In addition to a trip to New York in 2010 to end their relationship, she also refused to maintain a relationship with Epstein after his 2008 sex offender conviction.
In 2019, Epstein took his own life while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Edited by: Shawn Sinico
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