HOW THE SCANDAL DEVELOPED OVER MORE THAN 20 YEARS
1999
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein, allegedly with an entourage of young women, visit Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s private Scottish estate, at the invitation of Prince Andrew. A photo showing the then-couple at Balmoral emerges years later.
2000
Andrew invites the couple to a joint birthday party at Windsor Castle celebrating his 40th, Princess Anne’s 50th, Prince William’s 18th and Princess Margaret’s 70th.
2008
Two years after he first faced criminal charges for multiple counts of unlawful sex with a minor, Epstein pleads guilty to one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. He avoids federal charges, which could have seen him sent down for life, and is sentenced to 18 months in jail on a special programme that allows him to leave and go to his office during the day. After 13 months he is released on good behaviour.
2010
Footage is captured of Andrew peering around the front door of Epstein’s Manhattan mansion and giving a younger woman a cheerful wave. An hour earlier, Epstein had left the house in the company of another young woman.
FEB 2011
After being tracked down in Australia by journalist Sharon Churcher, an interview with Virginia Giuffre (née Roberts) appears in The Mail on Sunday, with a photograph showing Andrew with his hand around Giuffre’s waist at Maxwell’s Belgravia home in 1999. It is allegedly taken by Epstein, and is the defining photo of the story.
FEB 2011
The News of the World publishes photographs (taken in December 2010) of Andrew and Epstein deep in conversation on a afternoon walk in Central Park. At the time Epstein had recently been released from jail for child sex offences. Andrew would later claim he was there, staying at Epstein’s home again, to end the friendship.
JULY 2011
Four months after his ties with Epstein come under severe scrutiny, Andrew loses his role as UK special representative for trade and investment, Buckingham Palace announces.
APR 2015
It is made public that Andrew has been accused of participating in sexual activities with a minor, later identified as Virginia Giuffre. She alleges they had sex three times: in London, in New York, and on Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
JULY 2019
Epstein is arrested on federal sex trafficking charges.
AUG 2019
Guards at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York find Epstein unresponsive in his cell. He is pronounced dead later that day. An examiner rules his death is suicide.
NOV 2019
Andrew is interviewed by Emily Maitlis in a Newsnight special at Buckingham Palace. He attempts to use the interview to explain how he has been hugely misunderstood. This is not achieved. Instead he provokes more questions, becomes a laughing stock worldwide, and puts Pizza Express Woking on the map.
NOV 2019
A week after the disastrous interview, Andrew announces he is stepping back from royal duties, since the Epstein scandal has become a “major disruption” to the Royal family. “I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein,” he says.
APRIL 2020
In a move that was sure to cheer hospice workers suffering during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, Prince Andrew emerges from hiding to join his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, in packing boxes of cupcakes for them. The pair appear in an Instagram video.
AUG 2021
Guiffre sues Andrew in the United States, accusing him of sexual assault. Ian Maxwell prepared the “bath picture” (above) in preparation for his sister’s trial in the winter of that year.
JAN 2022
In a surprise twist, Andrew settles Giuffre’s sexual assault case for an undisclosed sum [said to be worth £7.5million]. This spares him having to give evidence at trial.
FEB 2022
Andrew’s military titles and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen. He will stop using the title His Royal Highness in an official capacity.
MAR 2022
Andrew makes a controversial appearance at a memorial service at Westminster Abbey for his late father, Prince Philip, when he escorts his mother, the late Queen, to her seat.
SEP 2022
Andrew wears military uniform again for the “Vigil of the Princes” during the Queen’s lying in state at Westminster Hall, but not for her state funeral or during the period of national mourning.