Jeffrey Epstein‘s ex-housekeeper claimed Prince Andrew had daily massages when he spent ‘weeks’ at the paedophile financier’s Florida home, court documents have revealed – adding that Sarah Ferguson allegedly also visited the residence.
Juan Alessi, who worked at Epstein’s Palm Beach residence, said both Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, were friends with him and now convicted sex-trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
During his video-taped interview under oath in 2009, released on Friday night as part of the latest tranche of documents linked to Epstein, Mr Alessi was questioned on the duke’s relationship with Maxwell and the financier.
He said that Andrew would have ‘daily’ massages while staying at the residence, but that Sarah Ferguson, while ‘friends’ with Epstein, visited once for a ‘short time’.
The newly unsealed files heap fresh embarrassment on the Royal but last night, royal sources claimed that the King continues to feel a ‘sense of duty’ to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to ensure that Andrew is not ‘cut adrift’ from the rest of the family.
A source told that Mirror that Charles has told his brother he ‘won’t be abandoned’.
‘Charles promised his late mother he would not abandon Andrew once she was gone and that remains the situation, unless of course he finds himself engaged in a criminal matter,’ they said.
Prince Andrew (pictured with Sarah Ferguson) has always denied all accusations of sexual activity with Epstein’s accusers, and denied wrongdoing
Juan Alessi, who worked for Jeffrey Epstein as a housekeeper from 1991 until 2002, and testified during Maxwell’s trial in 2021
Paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein’s former home in Palm Beach, Florida, where it is claimed Prince Andrew would receive ‘daily massages’ on weeks-long visits
A room inside Jeffrey Epstein’s home in Palm Beach, Florida, which Andrew is alleged to have visited several times
The master bedroom inside Jeffrey Epstein’s home in Palm Beach – one of a number of photographs released by the FBI
Meanwhile, in the interview with housekeeper Mr Alessi, lawyer Katherine Ezell asked: ‘Were Prince Andrew and Princess Sarah friends of Ms Maxwell?’
Mr Alessi replied: ‘Both of them,’ confirming he meant that they were friends with Maxwell and with Epstein.
The lawyer went on: ‘Did they ever have massages when they were there?’
Mr Alessi replied: ‘Prince Andrew did. I think Sarah was there only once and for a short time. I don’t think she slept in there. I cannot remember.
‘I think she was visiting Wellington and she came to the house and we met her. But Prince Andrew, yes, Prince Andrew spent weeks with us.’
Ms Ezell then asked: ‘Where would he sleep?’
Mr Alessi said: ‘In the main room, the main guest bedroom. That was the blue room.’
The lawyer then said: ‘And, so, when he would come and stay, during that time would he frequently have massages?
Mr Alessi replied: ‘I would say, daily massages.’
Asked if it was sometimes more than one a day, Mr Alessi said: ‘I can’t remember if he had more than one, but I think it was just a massage for him. We set up the tables and…’
Ms Ezell interjected: ‘Do you have any recollection of (Virginia Giuffre) coming to the house when Prince Andrew was there?’
Mr Alessi replied: ‘It could have been, but I’m not sure.’
In a further interview under oath by an Epstein employee, who is labelled only as ‘the witness’ in the documents, claimed Maxwell took the paedophile financier to England ‘to introduce him to royalty’.
The staff member said there were ‘many pictures’ of the Duke of York with Epstein in the property they worked at.
They also said they never saw the duke visit the property, but ‘he called’. The Palm Beach house was demolished in April 2021.
Buckingham Palace and representatives for the Duchess of York were contacted for comment.
Excerpts of Juan Alessi’s deposition, which was given under oath in 2009 and has been released in the latest tranche of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein
Sarah Ferguson photographed at Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in Wellington, Florida in 2005. Mr Alessi said she visited Epstein’s home ‘once and for a short time’
Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts (now Giuffre) and Ghislaine Maxwell are pictured in 2001 at Maxwell’s London townhouse
Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.
He was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. The duke strenuously denies any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, the Royal family is said to be split over whether Andrew should be cast out for good.
Christmas Day saw Andrew join the family for the annual festive church service on the Sandringham Estate – a show of unity that baffled many, given that the release of new Epstein papers was imminent.
The house was demolished in April 2021 after Epstein’s death (pictured: the demolition in progress)
An exterior shot of Epstein’s home at Palm Beach, which Andrew is alleged to have visited a number of times, receiving ‘daily’ massages
Alessi leaving court in Manhattan after testifying in Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial in December 2021
Scotland Yard last night said it would not rule out investigating sexual assault claims against Prince Andrew.
As family rallied around the King’s brother at his Windsor mansion, Met chiefs said detectives would assess any ‘new and relevant’ information.
Anti-monarchy group Republic reported Andrew to police on Thursday after newly-released legal documents thrust his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein back into the spotlight.
The court files contained claims that the prince knew of Epstein’s sex trafficking, committed ‘acts of sexual abuse’ and took part in an ‘underage orgy’. He has vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations against him.
But pressure mounted on the Yard to act after both Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak were put on the spot over the claims. Sir Keir, who is a former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, told LBC Radio that ‘credible’ accusations should be investigated whoever they relate to.
Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein are seen strolling in Central Park on December 5, 2010
The Labour leader added: ‘I’ve seen the headlines on this, not the detail, but, frankly, whoever it is, where there are credible allegations made, then of course they should be looked at.
Mr Sunak said it would not be right for him to comment on police matters and stressed that the police have ‘operational independence’ from politicians.
The Yard, which said that it had not launched an investigation, was last night accused by the chief executive of Republic of protecting Andrew. Graham Smith said: ‘I am writing to the Commissioner Mark Rowley to raise these questions and ask why the Met appears to be protecting the royals from potential prosecution.’
The documents last night also revealed how Maxwell, the disgraced socialite claimed she ‘never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein’.
The deposition, from 2016, showed Maxwell describe Ms Giuffre’s alleged meetings with the duke as a ’tissue of lies’.
In an exchange with Ms Giuffre’s lawyer Sigrid McCawley, Maxwell was asked: ‘Did you introduce him to Jeffrey?’
Maxwell responded: ‘That would be another of Virginia’s lies and the lies you perpetrate.
‘I never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein at any time ever, so just add that the (sic) to long list of lies.’
Ms McCawley continued: ‘Did Jeffrey know Prince Andrew?’
Maxwell replied: ‘Clearly he knew him.’
Pressed on whether she knew how Andrew met Epstein, Maxwell said: ‘I do not know (sic) Jeffrey met Prince Andrew.
‘What I do know is that I did not introduce them.
‘That is one of the many lies. Are we tallying all the lies?’
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. The death was ruled a suicide.
Maxwell has been imprisoned since July 2020 despite attempts by her defence counsel to have her released on bail.
She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the Southern District of New York in June 2022.