Ghislaine Maxwell has given her first interview from prison - and made some eyebrow-raising claims in the process.
Over the last decade, one particular photo has repeatedly been shown in the media in connection with the sex trafficking crimes that both socialite Maxwell and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein were convicted of.
First published by the Daily Mail back in 2011, the photo was allegedly taken on the evening of March 10, 2001, and shows Prince Andrew with his hand around the waist of a then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts (now Giuffre). To the right, Maxwell can be seen smiling.
The photo was reportedly taken by Epstein himself.
In a lawsuit filed last year, Giuffre, now 39, claimed that she was sexually assaulted by the Queen's second son three times: once in New York City, once in London at Maxwell's home, and once on Epstein's private island, known as Little St. James, in the US Virgin Islands.
Despite Prince Andrew repeatedly denying the allegations, it was reported earlier this year that court documents had shown that both parties had agreed on an out-of-court settlement. Earlier this year, Prince Andrew reportedly paid as much as $16 million to Giuffre, as well as vowing to make a donation to a charity "in support of victims' rights" in exchange for the case no longer proceeding to trial.
During his infamous interview with the BBC in 2019, the Duke of York questioned the validity of the picture, saying: "From the investigations that we’ve done, you can’t prove whether or not that photograph is faked or not because it is a photograph of a photograph of a photograph."
He added that he never recalled the photograph being taken.
Now, in her first interview from prison, Maxwell has also questioned the validity of the photo.
Per the MailOnline, Maxwell has now stated: "I don’t recognize that picture and I don’t believe it is a real picture."
Maxwell then said that any previous comments in which she acknowledged the photo was real were actually her recognizing her own house.
"I said, it is that image that, whatever it is, I recognize it as my house," Maxwell said. "But I have come to discover that image I don’t believe is true. And the original has never been produced because it doesn’t exist. I don’t believe that image is a true image."
Elsewhere in the interview, Maxwell gushed over her "dear friend" Prince Andrew, saying: "I feel so bad for him. I follow what is happening to him."
The 60-year-old then commented on Prince Andrew's previous claims that the two were never close, saying: "I accept that this friendship could not survive my conviction.
"He is paying such a price for the association. I consider him a dear friend. I care about him."
As reported by BBC News, Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty on five of the six charges brought against her in late December. These include sex trafficking of a minor, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and three related counts of conspiracy.
