Newly released emails have shed light on Queen Elizabeth II's private stance regarding her son Andrew's association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
According to correspondence uncovered from US government documents, the late monarch offered Andrew her "full support" whilst simultaneously viewing his dealings with Epstein as "unwise."
The email, dated March 9 2011, was sent by David Stern, a close adviser to the then-Prince Andrew, directly to Epstein himself.
Appearing to refer to Andrew as "PA," Mr Stern wrote: "PA has full support of his mum, only dealing with you was 'unwise.'"
Queen Elizabeth II gave Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor her "full support" newly revealed emails claim
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The quotation marks used by Mr Stern suggest he was directly conveying the Queen's own words about her son's relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Prior to this discovery, the late Queen's personal views on Andrew's conduct had remained unknown, but the newly uncovered emails by ITV have shed light on the late Queen's view of the pair's relationship.
The correspondence came three months after Andrew claimed in his now-infamous Newsnight interview that he had travelled to New York to end his friendship with Epstein in person, describing the trip as the "honourable" course of action.
Two photographs had sparked intense scrutiny in February 2011.
One captured Andrew walking with Epstein through Central Park in New York, whilst the other showed him with his arm around a young Virginia Giuffre in London.
Ms Giuffre would later accuse the former prince of having sex with her.
Just one day after the second image appeared in the press, Andrew sent an email to Epstein stating: "we are in this together."
At the time of Mr Stern's correspondence with Epstein, Andrew was facing mounting pressure to step down from his role as Britain's official trade envoy.
A man believed to David Stern alongside Sarah Ferguson and the then-Prince Andrew
|US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Days before Mr Stern's email about the Queen's views, Sarah Ferguson had publicly expressed regret for accepting money from the sex offender.
On March 9 2011, she apologised in a newspaper interview for taking £15,000 from Epstein to help clear her personal debts.
Following Ms Ferguson's public statement, Stern updated Epstein, referring to her as "F" and noting that media attention had shifted predominantly to her financial troubles and "lack of judgement."
Epstein responded with frustration, instructing Mr Stern to contact both Andrew and his ex-wife about the damage her comments were causing.
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"Jeffrey will need to defend himself. this is unfair, very unfair," he wrote.
Mr Stern confirmed he would relay the message to both parties, but through Messenger rather than email, which he described as "safer (device to device)."
Despite Andrew's assertion in his Newsnight interview that he had severed all contact with Epstein, the newly released documents suggest communication continued through his inner circle.
Mr Stern, who worked in Andrew's office and served as a director of the now-defunct Pitch@Palace entrepreneurial scheme, maintained regular correspondence with Epstein.
Prior to this discovery, the late Queen's personal views on Andrew's conduct had remained unknown
|GETTY
A photograph among the US Department of Justice documents shows Mr Stern celebrating his birthday alongside Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in January 2014, indicating his close relationship with the couple.
The day after the Queen's Diamond Jubilee finale in 2012, Mr Stern emailed Epstein about the Buckingham Palace balcony appearance, noting that the monarch had chosen to appear only with Charles and his immediate family.
"Changing times as we expect," Mr Stern observed.
Andrew has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
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