Andrew received copies of The King’s Speech at Epstein dinner despite claims he cut ties
The Epstein files detail a “very last-minute casual dinner” organised for Andrew
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received two copies of the film The King’s Speech from a Hollywood publicist during a dinner at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York residence in December 2010, newly released documents have revealed.
This revelation emerges despite Andrew’s 2019 Newsnight interview assertion that his visit to New York was solely to end his friendship with Epstein, two years after the financier’s conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. He claimed to have had no further contact after this meeting.
The documents, part of the extensive Epstein files, detail a “very last-minute casual dinner” organised for Andrew. Among the reported invitees were filmmaker Woody Allen, his wife Soon-Yi Previn and journalist Katie Couric.
Hollywood publicist Peggy Siegal recounted aspects of the gathering in an email sent to Epstein on 3 December 2010. In her message, she appeared to allude to Harvey Weinstein, suggesting he would be “angry” about her providing the films to Andrew.
The disgraced movie mogul’s production house, The Weinstein Company, was behind the film.
Ms Siegal said in her message to Epstein: “The evening was sensational… Did you have fun?
“My favourite line. ‘So Andrew, tell us about the wedding. What are you wearing?’ He was not sure if I was kidding or not… and I was perfectly straight with him.
“I did leave him two copies of ‘The King’s Speech’ (one for back-up) and begged him to let me watch him watch the film.
“I must get them both back. Harvey will kill me if he finds out I lent them to him. Harvey is trying to get the palace (and Prince Charles) to see the film….
“I told Andrew to say he saw the film in the theatre in New York. I will get the name of the theatre where it’s playing.
“Please make sure Andrew does not say I lent him a DVD. Harvey will really be angry. Will talk to you tomorrow.
“Your table looked great and the food was delicious.
“xoxo Peg.”
A separate email to Epstein from an account on behalf of Ms Siegal showed a private screening of The King’s Speech was being arranged for Andrew in November 2010.
The email from a woman called Stephanie was sent to a redacted address and forwarded to Epstein on November 3.
Set out in four points, it said: “1. As per our phone conversation Prince Andrew will be in the States November 29th – December 5th.
“2. We will get a print of The Kings Speech from Harvey Weinstein and have you host a very private, small, no press screening for Prince Andrew.
“3. Here is a list of events for that week: Monday, November 29th is the Gotham Awards, Tuesday, November 30th is the Black Swan Premiere, Wednesday, December 1st is the All Good Things Premiere (sic). We can do it Thursday, December 2nd, 4th, or Sunday, December 5th.
“4. Tell Prince Andrew the film and Colin Firth who portrays his grandfather is going to win the Oscar.
“Xoxo, Peggy.”
Colin Firth won the best actor Academy Award for his portrayal of Andrew’s grandfather George VI in the film.
Challenged during his 2019 Newsnight interview on his decision to stay at the home of a convicted sex offender, Andrew said: “It was a convenient place to stay. I mean I’ve gone through this in my mind so many times.
“At the end of the day, with a benefit of all the hindsight that one can have, it was definitely the wrong thing to do.
“But at the time I felt it was the honourable and right thing to do and I admit fully that my judgment was probably coloured by my tendency to be too honourable but that’s just the way it is.”
Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.
His death was ruled a suicide.
Andrew has faced allegations, which he strenuously denies, that he sexually assaulted a teenage Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Epstein.
He paid millions to Ms Giuffre, a woman he has claimed never to have met, to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022.
Andrew stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after the interview on BBC Newsnight, but the publication of Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, and the US government’s release of documents from Epstein’s estate, brought more scrutiny over his relationship with the financier.
It led to the King officially stripping his disgraced brother of both his HRH style and his prince title.
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