'The Royals asked us to prove Andrew photo was fake'
| Updated: 10 Feb 2026
Emily Maitlis discusses the request made by officials from the Royal Family when she was securing her 2019 interview with Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
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In 2019 Emily Maitlis interviewed Andrew Mountbatten Windsor when allegations about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein emerged. But before this happened, Emily – and her BBC team at the time – were asked to prove a photo of the former Prince Andrew with Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre was fake.
Now, with the photo seemingly confirmed to be real after the latest release of the Epstein Files, she reflects on the interview, the photo and why what she knew about Giuffre makes it "obvious" the image has always been genuine.
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.