Second woman says Epstein sent her to Andrew in UK

If you’re scanning today’s headlines and wondering what’s confirmed, here’s the key point: a US lawyer says a second woman alleges Jeffrey Epstein sent her to the UK in 2010 for a sexual encounter with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. She says she spent the night at Royal Lodge and was later shown around Buckingham Palace. Andrew has not responded to the BBC’s latest request for comment and has consistently denied wrongdoing. (theguardian.com)

Why this matters now is the specific setting. According to the lawyer’s account to the BBC, this is the first time an Epstein survivor has alleged a sexual encounter at a royal residence. Buckingham Palace routinely logs guests for private tours, but the BBC says it cannot check the woman’s name without revealing her identity. That means some parts of the story remain unverified in public. (theguardian.com)

What we can say about the woman is limited. She is not British and, at the time, was in her twenties. Her lawyer, Brad Edwards, says there were communications between her and Andrew before the night she describes. He is considering a civil lawsuit on her behalf. This is an allegation, not a proven fact, and it will be tested if it reaches court. (theguardian.com)

A quick media literacy pause. Allegations are claims; evidence is what courts and investigators test. Civil cases ask whether something is more likely than not. Criminal cases use a higher standard: beyond reasonable doubt. When a source’s identity is protected, journalists will often rely on what can be checked-flight dates, emails, official logs-and say clearly what can’t yet be confirmed without exposing a survivor. That is the situation here.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied Virginia Giuffre’s earlier claims and any wrongdoing related to Epstein. He settled Giuffre’s US civil lawsuit in February 2022 without admitting liability, a point worth keeping in mind when people on social media treat a settlement as a guilty verdict. (theguardian.com)

Context also includes Andrew’s status. In October 2025, Buckingham Palace said the King had begun the formal removal of Andrew’s style, titles and honours, adding that he would be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and would leave Royal Lodge. Letters patent published the following month confirmed the removal of his prince title and HRH style. (royal.uk)

Politically, pressure has grown for Andrew to cooperate with inquiries. UK ministers have said he should be prepared to give evidence, and a US congressional panel has asked him to submit to questioning as part of its Epstein work. A 2020 US justice department document shows prosecutors were open to interviewing him under a proffer letter-an arrangement that does not grant immunity. New images discussed by ministers have added to calls for answers. (theguardian.com)

Let’s be careful with timelines and language. The BBC says it has asked Andrew for comment on this new claim and received no reply at the time of reporting. That does not mean “refusal to comment” or guilt; it means the newsroom did not receive a response before publication. Responsible reading means waiting for any response-and then weighing it against evidence. (theguardian.com)

For wider background, a 2025 BBC investigation identified 87 Epstein-linked flights into or out of UK airports between the early 1990s and 2018, with some passenger lists naming only “females”. Lawyers told the BBC it was “shocking” there had been no full UK probe; the Met said it would assess any new material. This explains why fresh testimony and documents draw immediate scrutiny. (archive.ph)

On the record about Epstein himself: he was convicted in Florida in 2008 of soliciting sex from a minor, and he died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges. These facts frame the seriousness with which new claims are received. (apnews.com)

Virginia Giuffre’s story remains central context. She alleged she was trafficked to Andrew when she was 17; he denied it and later settled her civil case. Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, and her memoir was published posthumously that October. For many survivors, her advocacy shaped how the public reads allegations like these. (apnews.com)

If you’re teaching or learning from this story, here’s the takeaway: keep a clear line between allegation and proof; look for what’s independently verified; track official statements in full; and remember that safeguarding comes first. If you’ve been affected by this topic, support is available via 116 123 (Samaritans, UK) or 988 (US).