Prince Andrew ‘thinks that the worst is out there, but maybe it isn’t’: As Epstein files threaten to heap ‘further embarrassment’ on Duke, expert says he’ll be ‘haunted forever’ by scandal

Files related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein are set to heap ‘further embarrassment’ on Prince Andrew, royal experts have said.

A first tranche of documents that were released by the US Department of Justice yesterday turned out to largely be old files, but more are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.

Florida lawyer Spencer Kuvin, who represented nine Epstein victims, said Andrew should be ‘concerned’ by the release of the files, the contents of which Donald Trump’s attorney general Pam Bondi said would ‘make you sick’.

There was then confusion over why it was old documents that were released, but Ms Bondi insisted ‘thousands’ remain secret and FBI director Kash Patel vowed to hunt down any missing pages. 

Today, royal experts said fresh humiliation for Andrew over his friendship with Epstein could be on its way with the release of more files. 

Historian and commentator Alexander Larman said there is likely to be ‘further embarrassment’ and added: ‘Andrew thinks that the worst is already out there, but maybe it isn’t.’

Author Phil Dampier said the Duke of York’s association with Epstein will ‘haunt him forever’ and any mention of his name in any further files will be ‘another hammer blow to any hopes he has of a comeback’.

Epstein was facing trial for running a child-sex trafficking ring when he was found hanged in his cell in August 2019. 

A first tranche of documents that were released by the US Department of Justice yesterday turned out to largely be old files, but more are expected to emerge in the coming weeks. Above: Epstein in 2005 

Some believe that the billionaire did not take his own life. Lawyer Mr Kuvin told the Mail today: ‘I can’t tell you he definitely didn’t commit suicide, but it looks suspicious.’  

Andrew has been a royal pariah since being forced to step back from palace duties following the fallout of the Epstein scandal, which included his financial settlement with sex accuser Virginia Guiffre.

Mr Larman said: ‘What I would say is Epstein and Andrew’s relationship has been priced in for some time now. 

‘Unless there is proof of wrongdoing, I don’t think there is anything that we are going to find out from the files about the Duke that is particularly surprising or shocking. It’s all priced in.’ 

He added: ‘[There will be] further embarrassment, a further reminder as if there needed to be that he was involved in poor circumstances with a disputable man.

‘Andrew thinks that the worst is already out there, but maybe it isn’t.’

Mr Dampier said: ‘His association with Epstein will haunt him forever. 

‘He made a fatal mistake to continue see him after he had been convicted and should never have stayed with him again.

Epstein was found hanged aged 66 in federal prison in 2019 as he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges

Prince Andrew with Melania Trump (left), Gwendolyn Beck and Epstein at Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, in 2000

Prince Andrew pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell (centre) and Jeffrey Epstein at Ascot in 2000

People walk out of the West Wing of the White House with binders titled ‘The Epstein Files: Phase 1’ yesterday

‘Any mention of his name is another hammer blow to any hopes he has of a comeback.’

The expert added: ‘He might feel he has been scapegoated, but I’m afraid he brought it on himself.’ 

It emerged at the end of January that Andrew promised Epstein they would ‘play some more soon’, weeks after he claimed to have cut ties with the paedophile.

The Duke of York sent an email where he promised to ‘keep in touch’, despite telling Newsnight interviewer Emily Maitlis in 2019 that he had stopped seeing Epstein in early December 2010.

The Duke said: ‘I never had any contact with him from that day forward.’ 

During that visit, they were photographed walking through New York’s Central Park. 

But, according to the emails, Andrew told Epstein in January 2011: ‘Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!’

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing and there is no suggestion that he was an accomplice of Epstein.

From the moment Jeffrey Epstein was found dead on his prison cell floor (pictured) six years ago, a noose made from an orange bedsheet around his neck, the conspiracy theories ran wild.

Spencer Kuvin (pictured), chief legal officer at Goldlaw Law Firm in West Palm Beach, who met Epstein on several occasions and has fought relentlessly for his victims over 20 years says: ‘I can’t tell you he definitely didn’t commit suicide, but it looks suspicious.’

His email emerged from legal filings in London in a case involving former Barclays boss Jes Staley, who was friends with Epstein. 

The 68-year-old is appealing against a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) decision to give him a ban and £1.8million fine for make two allegedly misleading statements over his friendship with Epstein.

The Central Park images were followed by the photo of Andrew with his hand around the waist of Virginia Roberts, now Giuffre, in the home of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in Mayfair. 

Andrew told Ms Maitlis that he went to stay with Epstein after his conviction so he could meet him in person to say ‘terribly sorry… I can’t see you [any more]’.

The Duke said: ‘We had an opportunity to go for a walk in the park… I said to him, I said, “Look, because of what has happened, I don’t think it is appropriate that we should remain in contact”.’

In 2022, Andrew paid Mrs Giuffre an undisclosed sum, reported to be £12 million, to settle her civil claim for sex assault without any admission of wrongdoing.

Maxwell, 63, was jailed for 20 years in the same year for finding girls for Epstein to abuse.