'Epstein invited to Palace' and 'I have Russian friend for you'
Revelations from more than three million newly released documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein dominate the front pages of Saturday's papers. The Times reports that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor invited Epstein to visit Buckingham Palace two months after the financier was released from house arrest, according to an email from 2010. The email was sent from an account attributed to "The Duke" which appears to be linked to the former prince. The BBC has not been able to independently verify their authorship. Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied all allegations of wrongdoing connected to Epstein, and the BBC has contacted him for a response. The exchange is among the latest batch of more than three million pages released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday.
"Andrew invited paedophile to Palace a month after his release" is the Daily Mail's headline. The paper reports that the email suggests the former prince promised Epstein "lots of privacy". The email is dated from September 2010. Epstein was released from house arrest in July of that year. The emails do not indicate any wrongdoing and the BBC has contacted Mountbatten-Windsor for a response.
The Daily Telegraph follows with details from an email in 2010 between Epstein and an account named "The Duke", which appears to be linked to Mountbatten-Windsor. The message suggested Epstein wanted to introduce "A" to a "beautiful" 26-year-old Russian woman. The paper reports that the email was signed "A", with what appears to be an email signature that reads "HRH Duke of York KG". The BBC has not been able to independently verify their authorship. The BBC has contacted Mountbatten-Windsor, who previously denied all wrongdoing related to Epstein.
The Sun leads on the same story, with the headline "Epstein fixed Russian girl for Andrew".
The Guardian focuses on documents that suggest Epstein sent thousands of pounds in bank transfers to Peter Mandelson's partner Reinaldo Avila da Silva in 2009. In an email to Epstein, da Silva sets out the costs of an osteopathy course, provides his bank details and thanks the financier for "anything you can help me with". Mandelson has repeatedly said he regrets his past friendship with the late sex offender. When asked for a response to the newly released emails, he said he had been "very clear" about his relationship with Epstein and has "nothing more to add".
The Daily Star shifts its attention to Microsoft boss Bill Gates whose name also appears in the newly released documents. The paper says the new files reveal the billionaire reportedly caught a sexually transmitted disease 'from Epstein sex girls'. A spokesperson for Gates called the claims "absolutely absurd and completely false".
The Daily Mirror's front page says Donald Trump's name also appears again in the new documents. Many of the allegations about the US president appear to be based on unverified tips received by the agency, and were made without supporting evidence. When asked about the claims, the White House directed reporters to the part of the DOJ announcement which described some documents as containing "untrue and sensationalist" allegations against the president. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and has not been accused of any crimes by Epstein's victims.
In other Trump news, the Financial Times reports that the US president has named Kevin Warsh as the Federal Reserve chair to succeed Jerome Powell when his term ends in May. Warsh has been an outspoken critic of the central bank and served as a Fed governor from 2006 to 2011.
In news closer to home, the i Paper's latest polling shows "half of UK voters" want Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to be replaced. It adds that the figures show "for the first time, the PM has lost the support of voters who backed him and Labour in the 2024 election".
The Daily Express shouts out its campaign for "a proper Brexit".
