The Duke of York’s close pal, Ghislaine Maxwell, contacted Jeffrey Epstein’s rich and powerful friends, asking them for handwritten notes wishing the billionaire a happy 50th birthday
Prince Andrew was asked to contribute to Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday album in which Donald Trump told the paedophile, “May every day be another wonderful secret”, it is claimed.
The Duke of York’s close pal Ghislaine Maxwell asked the sex offender’s rich and powerful friends to write messages for the billionaire’s 50th in 2003.
The British socialite, 63, who is serving 20 years in a US jail for trafficking girls for Epstein, bound the tributes in a leather album. The gift was discovered by US Justice Department investigators probing the financier’s inner circle.
A US source told this newspaper: “Ghislaine was the driving force behind the birthday tributes. She wanted it to be a who’s who of Epstein’s inner circle, and she leaned on a lot of people to write something. It wasn’t just casual greetings. Ghislaine wanted messages that were personal, meaningful.
“Jeffrey… always saw Andrew as the pinnacle of his pals, and Ghislaine made sure he was asked to contribute.
“She framed it as a celebration of Jeffrey’s brilliance, his generosity, his supposed unique mind. She made it sound like an honour to be included.” It is not clear if the prince did send a message.
At the time, Prince Andrew was a regular fixture at social gatherings with his pal, who was convicted of a sex offence with a minor in 2008.
The Duke has said he was not aware of Epstein’s crime.
Andrew, 65, was introduced to Epstein in 1999 by Maxwell. He visited the financier in New York, Florida and the US Virgin Islands, and hosted Epstein at Balmoral, Windsor Castle, Sandringham and Royal Ascot.
Each time Maxwell was also present. In a 2014 court filing, Virginia Giuffre claimed she was loaned by Epstein to Andrew for sex three times as a teenager. Andrew repeatedly and vehemently denied her claims. She later sued him in New York for sexual abuse, which he settled out of court for a reported £12million.
He continued to deny any wrongdoing, telling BBC Newsnight he had no recollection of meeting her.
In April, Giuffre, 41, took her own life in Australia. Epstein, 66, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019.
The birthday album came to light after it was reported that Donald Trump had contributed a signed note.
The Wall Street Journal claimed to have seen a 2003 typed letter featuring a permanent marker sketch of a naked woman.
Trump allegedly wrote: “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret,” and also: “We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.”
Trump’s links to Epstein stretch back to the 1990s.
In a 2002 interview, Trump said: “He’s a lot of fun to be with… he liked beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
The US President said the Journal story was faked, adding that he never drew pictures of women. However, some of his city skyline sketches have been sold at auction.
Last month Elon Musk claimed the President was named in Epstein-related material.
Trump called the claims a Democrat“scam” but he and key Republicans have since demanded the Epstein files be unsealed.
Prince Andrew was asked for comment.
