Second Epstein victim claims she was sent to UK to have sex with Andrew

A second woman has alleged she was sent to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, her lawyer says. The encounter allegedly occurred at the former prince's residence, Royal Lodge, in 2010. The woman, who is not British, was in her 20s at the time.

The woman's lawyer, Brad Edwards from the US firm Edwards Henderson, told the BBC that after spending the night with Andrew, she says she was also given a tour of Buckingham Palace and tea.

"We're talking about at least one woman who was sent by Jeffrey Epstein over to Prince Andrew. And she even had, after a night with Prince Andrew, a tour of Buckingham Palace," the lawyer said. 

BBC News has asked Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for comment, but so far he has not responded to these accusations. Andrew has previously vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Buckingham Palace routinely records the names of tour guests but the BBC said it has not been possible to corroborate the woman's visit without revealing her identity.

The woman's account of spending the night at Andrew's home is the first time an Epstein survivor has alleged a sexual encounter occurred at a royal residence.

It comes as pictures appearing to show Andrew crouched over an unidentified woman were featured in the latest disclosure of files linked to Epstein.

The latest pictures, released in a document of 100 pages of photographs, also appear to show the former duke touching the woman’s abdomen. Another unidentified person’s feet are up on a table in the background.

Elsewhere in the document dump, screenshots and scans appear to show the former prince exchanged emails with Epstein about a “beautiful” Russian woman and invited him to Buckingham Palace

Mr Edwards represents more than 200 Epstein survivors worldwide, and represented Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that she was brought to London to have sex with the former prince in 2001 when she was 17.

Giuffre said she was forced to have sex with Andrew two more times between 2001 and 2002 - once in New York and once on Epstein's private Caribbean island.

The lawyer, who is based in Florida, also told the BBC that there were communications between his client and the former prince before the encounter where she says she spent the night with him.

Edwards said he had been in contact with "certain legal counsel" of the former prince in the United States, but said Andrew had "seemingly been disconnected from his lawyers".

Communications stopped after King Charles formally removed Andrew's "style, title and honours", he said.

Andrew was stripped of his royal titles in October last year. It was also announced that he would leave Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, which had been his home since 2004.

A statement from Buckingham Palace read: "His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

"His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.

"These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

"Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse."

The lawyer said he is now considering filing a civil lawsuit on the woman's behalf against the former prince.