Jeffrey Epstein's former housekeeper has claimed the Duke of York received daily massages when he spent 'weeks' at the pedophile financier's Florida home, court documents have revealed – alongside a claim that Sarah Ferguson visited the residence.
Juan Alessi, who worked at Epstein's Palm Beach residence, said that both Prince Andrew and his then-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, were friends with him and now-convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
During his videotaped interview under oath in 2009, released as part of the latest batch of documents relating to Epstein, Mr Alessi was questioned about the duke's relationship with Maxwell and the financier.
He said Andrew would receive “daily” massages during his stay at the residence, but that Sarah Ferguson, although “friendly” with Epstein, came to visit once for a “short time.”
Andrew withdrew from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein, paying millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre, a woman he claimed he never met.
Prince Andrew (pictured on Christmas Day with Sarah Ferguson) has always denied any allegations of sexual activity with Epstein's accusers and denied wrongdoing
Pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein's former home in Palm Beach, Florida, where Prince Andrew reportedly received 'daily massages' during weeks-long visits
A court sketch of Juan Alessi, who worked as a housekeeper for Jeffrey Epstein from 1991 to 2002 and testified at Maxwell's 2021 trial
Alessi leaves court in Manhattan after testifying in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell in December 2021
Sarah Ferguson photographed at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in Wellington, Florida in 2005. Mr. Alessi said she visited Epstein's home “once and for a short time.”
Jeffrey Epstein is pictured on the New York State sex offender registry in March 2017
He was ostracized from the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. The Duke vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
In the interview with Mr Alessi, lawyer Katherine Ezell asked: “Were Prince Andrew and Princess Sarah friends of Ms Maxwell?”
Mr. Alessi replied, “Both,” confirming that he meant they were friends with Maxwell and with Epstein.
The lawyer continued, “Have they ever had massages there?”
Mr Alessi replied: 'Prince Andrew did. I think Sarah was only there once and for a short time. I don't think she slept there. I can not remember.
“I think she was visiting Wellington and she came to the house and we met her. But Prince Andrew, yes, Prince Andrew spent weeks with us.”
Mrs. Ezell then asked, “Where would he sleep?”
Mr. Alessi said, “In the main room, the master bedroom. That was the blue room.'
The lawyer then said: 'And if he came to stay, would he get regular massages during that time?
Mr Alessi replied: 'I would say daily massages.'
When asked if it was sometimes more than one massage a day, Mr Alessi said: 'I can't remember if he had more than one, but I think it was just a massage for him. We set the tables and…'
Mrs. Ezell interjected: “Do you have any memory of (Virginia Giuffre) coming to the house when Prince Andrew was there?”
Mr Alessi replied: 'That could have been the case, but I'm not sure.'
In a further interview under oath by an Epstein associate, identified in the documents only as “the witness,” they alleged that Maxwell had taken the pedophile financier to England “to introduce him to the royal family.”
The staff member said there were “lots of photos” of the Duke of York with Epstein at the property where they worked.
They also said they never saw the Duke visit the property but 'he called'.
Buckingham Palace and representatives of the Duchess of York were contacted for comment.
Excerpts from Juan Alessi's deposition taken under oath in 2009 and released in the latest batch of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein
Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts (now Giuffre) and Ghislaine Maxwell are pictured at Maxwell's London mansion in 2001
In a resurfaced videotaped interview with Maxwell, the disgraced socialite claimed she “never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein.”
The 2016 statement showed Maxwell described Ms Giuffre's alleged meetings with the duke as a “fabric of lies”.
In a conversation with Sigrid McCawley, Ms. Giuffre's attorney, Maxwell was asked, “Did you introduce him to Jeffrey?”
Maxwell replied, “That would be another lie from Virginia and the lies you are perpetrating.
“I never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein so add that to the (sic) long list of lies.”
Ms McCawley continued: 'Did Jeffrey know Prince Andrew?'
Maxwell replied, “Obviously he knew him.”
When asked if she knew how Andrew met Epstein, Maxwell said: “I don't know (sic) that Jeffrey met Prince Andrew.
'What I do know is that I didn't introduce them.
'That's one of the many lies. Are we counting all the lies?'
Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal prison in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.
Maxwell has been jailed since July 2020, despite attempts by her defense counsel to have her released on bail.
She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022 in federal court in the Southern District of New York.