Maxwell said she did not introduce Prince Andrew to Epstein

Disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell claimed she “never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein” in an interview under oath, court documents have revealed.

The third tranche of files connected with paedophile financier Epstein were published on Friday, including the videotaped evidence with Maxwell in April 2016.

In the videotaped deposition, the socialite – pictured inset with Epstein – described Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre’s alleged meetings with the Duke of York as a “tissue of lies”.

Prince Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.

He is no longer a working member of the royal family, and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

The duke strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

In an exchange with Ms Giuffre’s lawyer Sigrid Mccawley during her deposition, Maxwell was first asked: “Do you know Prince Andrew?”

“I do,” she replied. Questioned if she remembered how she first met him, the convicted sex trafficker said: “No I do not.”

Ms Mccawley then asked: “Did you introduce him to Jeffrey?”

Maxwell 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, so just add that the [sic] to long list of lies.” Ms Mccawley continued: “Did Jeffrey know Prince Andrew?” Maxwell replied: “Clearly he knew him.”

Pressed on whether she knew how Prince Andrew met Epstein, Maxwell said: “What I do know is that I did not introduce them.”

Ms Mccawley then asked: “Did you ever introduce Prince Andrew to any girls under the age of 18 who were not friends of your children?”

The socialite responded: “I have not introduced Prince Andrew to anyone that I am aware of, other than friends of mine who have kids under that age that he may have met socially through me.”