Email from ‘A’ at Balmoral urges Ghislaine Maxwell to find ‘inappropriate friends’

A man identified as “A” who appears to be Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor discussed facilitating meetings with “inappropriate friends” with Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Among the latest tranche of Epstein files are email exchanges in 2001 and 2002 between Maxwell and a correspondent who appears as “The Invisible Man” in the email thread and says that he is writing from Balmoral.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, has a well-established relationship with Maxwell. As well as the initial A and reference to Balmoral, the August 2001 emails in the latest tranche include a mention of a valet and having recently left the “RN”. Andrew left the Royal Navy in July 2001.

Mountbatten-Windsor and Buckingham Palace have been approached for comment. He has previously acknowledged his friendship with Maxwell. In October he said of claims about his links with Epstein: “I vigorously deny the accusations against me.” There is no suggestion that being mentioned in the files is evidence of wrongdoing.

In one message sent in August 2001, The Invisible Man, signing off the email “A”, asks Maxwell if she had found him some “inappropriate friends”.

“I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family,” the message reads. “Activities take place all day and I am totally exhausted at the end of each day. The Girls are completely shattered and I will have to give them an early night today as it is getting tiring splitting them up all the time! How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”

Ghislaine Maxwell and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in an image released by the US Department of Justice on 19 December. Photograph: US Justice Department/Reuters

A separate file reveals an exchange between the two correspondents in which Maxwell apologises as she has only found “appropriate” friends, to which The Invisible Man or A replies “Distraught!”. He later references that he has left the “RN”.

Later, in February 2002, there is an exchange between Maxwell and The Invisible Man or A, in which she forwards correspondence with a third party, Juan Estoban Ganoza, about arrangements for a trip to Peru that include setting up meetings with “girls”.

“About the girls … how old is he?” asks Ganoza. In the reply, A says: “I am overwhelmed at the kindness and generosity of the offers that are being made for me.”

He adds: “As for girls well I leave that entirely to you and Juan Estoban!”

Another exchange in March 2002 refers to the trip to Peru. Maxwell has forwarded an email with a list of requests on A’s behalf. One line reads: “Some sight seeing some 2 legged sight seeing (read intelligent pretty fun and from good families) and he will be very happy.

“I know I can rely on you to show him a wonderful time and that you will only introduce him to friends that you can trust and rely on to be friendly and discreet and fun.”

Maxwell refers to A as “a very English sounding gentleman on the phone”.

Photographs taken at the time show Mountbatten-Windsor on a visit to Peru.