Prince Andrew was personally asked to contribute a message to billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday album, an insider has claimed.
The Duke of York, 65, was allegedly approached by longtime friend Maxwell to write a personal message for Epstein's milestone birthday in 2003, a project the British socialite is said to have spent over a year orchestrating. He was convicted of sex crimes a few years later, in 2008.
Maxwell, now 63 and serving a 20-year sentence in a US prison for trafficking underage girls, is believed to have asked Epstein's circle of powerful and wealthy friends to submit written tributes.
According to US investigators, the album - described as 'gold-embossed' and bound in leather - was later recovered by the Department of Justice during a probe into Epstein's sordid network.
A US source told the Sunday People: '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 known whether Prince Andrew did ultimately send a message. However, his close relationship with Epstein, a friendship he has faced intense scrutiny over in recent years, was already well established at the time.
Andrew was first introduced to Epstein by Maxwell in 1999 and subsequently visited the disgraced financier at his homes in New York, Palm Beach, and the US Virgin Islands.
Epstein was also hosted by the Prince at royal residences including Balmoral, Windsor Castle, Sandringham, and Royal Ascot.
The Duke has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes, which became public in 2006.
In 2008, Epstein was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution. He died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting federal sex trafficking charges.
Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager, alleged in a 2014 court filing that she had been forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions - allegations the Prince has 'vehemently' denied.
In 2022, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre reportedly worth £12million, while maintaining his innocence and stating he had no recollection of meeting her.
Giuffre died by suicide in Australia earlier this year, aged 41.
The existence of the birthday album first emerged after claims that Donald Trump had contributed a handwritten note to Epstein in 2003.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the letter included a crude drawing of a naked woman and a signature allegedly stylised to resemble pubic hair.
The message reportedly read: 'A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret,' and added, 'We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.'
Trump has furiously denied the report and is now suing The Wall Street Journal for a staggering $10billion (£7.46billion), branding the story 'fake'.
He told reporters: 'I don't draw pictures of women. It's not my language, it's not my words.'
The former US President's ties to Epstein have long been under the spotlight. In a 2002 interview, Trump remarked: '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.' Trump has since said he distanced himself from Epstein well before the financier's crimes became public.
Meanwhile, The Mail on Sunday has revealed that former US President Bill Clinton also contributed a 'warm and gushing' letter to the birthday book.
The message, embossed with 'From the desk of William Jefferson Clinton', was included among hundreds of tributes from elite figures Maxwell is said to have courted for over a year.
Buckingham Palace and Prince Andrew have been approached for comment.