The Duke of York told Jeffrey Epstein they would “play some more soon!” two months after he claimed he cut contact with the convicted paedophile.
The emails were disclosed in a filing by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are defending an appeal by former Barclays boss, Jes Staley.
Staley is challenging a decision to ban him from the industry for misleading regulators on his ties to Epstein, one of the most severe measures the FCA can impose.
The court documents show an exchange of messages between Epstein and “a member of the British Royal Family” – believed to be Prince Andrew. It suggests the duke and Epstein – who killed himself in jail in 2019 – were in contact for longer than he has previously admitted.
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. After his release, Epstein and the duke were photographed walking together in New York’s Central Park, in December 2010.
The prince has claimed this was the last contact he had with Epstein.
In a 2019 interview with Newsnight, Andrew said he visited Epstein in person to tell him they could no longer be friends, believing it was the “honourable” thing to do.
The Royal Year: King Charles and Camilla
Prince Andrew’s Sandringham withdrawal a surprise, but he won’t be out of mind
Prince Andrew will not join rest of Royal Family for Christmas after Chinese ‘spy’ Yang Tengbo named
Yet emails between the pair, which were handed to a court in London, show they kept exchanging messages until at least 27 February 2011.
On this date, Andrew emailed Epstein: “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!”
The disgraced duke has come under fire for his relationship with the paedophile financier. In 2022, he settled a multi-million pound claim with Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with the royal.
Andrew stepped down from royal duties and public life and had claimed he never met Ms Giuffre. He agreed to settle the claim without admitting liability.
He has previously strenuously denied all allegations against him.
The Jes Staley emails
Emails showed Epstein inviting Andrew to meet Staley on 27 February, saying: “jes staley will be in London on next tue afternoon, if you have time [sic].”
Andrew replied: “Jes is coming on 1st March or next week?”
The pair then engaged in a discussion about press articles, before the duke told Epstein they would “play some more soon”.
Sky News has contacted Prince Andrew for a comment.
Royal correspondent
Just when you thought Prince Andrew couldn’t fall any further, another twist emerges in his shameful association with Jeffrey Epstein.
He’d claimed the last time he had contact with the convicted paedophile was in December 2010, when the pair were infamously photographed together in Central Park.
The Duke of York insisted he thought he was being “honourable” when choosing to stay with Epstein and personally tell him they could no longer be friends.
But this email suggests the pair stayed in touch beyond this date. We don’t know for how long, but it leaves Prince Andrew once more facing difficult and damaging questions about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
And yet again, Andrew’s judgement is under considerable scrutiny.
Last year had ended badly for the disgraced Duke after his association with an alleged Chinese spy was exposed. He had to keep clear of the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas day gathering at Sandringham.
The Duke of York has always denied witnessing or suspecting any of Epstein’s behaviour.
But their friendship cost him his reputation.
He now leads a reclusive life in Windsor, stripped of responsibility and royal roles. Yet still making uncomfortable headlines for the rest of his family.
