Paedophile at the royal retreat: Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell pictured at Queen’s log cabin

Maxwell and Epstein pictured in the log cabin on the Balmoral Estate where the Queen spent her time - PA/Getty Images
Maxwell and Epstein pictured in the log cabin on the Balmoral Estate where the Queen spent her time - PA/Getty Images

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen relaxing at the Queen’s log cabin on her Balmoral estate in never-before-seen photographs released yesterday as evidence in the British Socialite's sex trafficking trial.

The photograph of the pair at the woodland cabin in Glen Beg was among a trove of pictures that were recovered from hard drives and CDs at Epstein’s New York townhouse seized in an FBI raid after the financier was charged with sex offences.

It is unclear when the photograph was taken, although it has previously been reported that Ms Maxwell and Epstein were personally hosted at Her Majesty’s Scottish property by Prince Andrew in 1999.

The Royal family was dragged into the sensational New York trial last week after mention was made of Prince Andrew’s friendship with the late financier and flights he was alleged to have taken on his private jet.

The Queen and Margaret Rhodes enjoy a relaxed lunch at Glen Beg, Her Majesty's log cabin on the Balmoral estate with the Queen's gin and Dubonnet perched on one side - MARGARET RHODES
The Queen and Margaret Rhodes enjoy a relaxed lunch at Glen Beg, Her Majesty's log cabin on the Balmoral estate with the Queen's gin and Dubonnet perched on one side - MARGARET RHODES

One woman who formed part of the entourage previously claimed the Prince personally welcomed the party to the castle in mid-1999. The visit to Balmoral is thought to have taken place in late summer or early autumn, when the Queen is likely to have been in residence.

The Queen has previously been photographed in the exact same spot having lunch with her first cousin, Margaret Rhodes.

The picture of Ms Maxwell and Epstein is thought to have been taken in 1999 - PA
The picture of Ms Maxwell and Epstein is thought to have been taken in 1999 - PA

She was also reported to have lunch over the summer with Prince Andrew, her middle son who has been accused by one of Epstein’s victims of sexually assaulting her during the early 2000s. The Duke has denied the charges.

Ms Maxwell can be seen leaning against Epstein, with her arm resting on his leg. Both of them are dressed casually. Ms Maxwell appears to have longer, shoulder-length hair, which she later cut into her infamous pixie style.

In most of the pictures published by the US Department of Justice this week, Epstein stares straight at the camera while Ms Maxwell looks at him lovingly.

An undated photo showing Ghislaine Maxwell embracing Jeffrey Epstein - US Department of Justice
An undated photo showing Ghislaine Maxwell embracing Jeffrey Epstein - US Department of Justice

Earlier in the trial, Andrew was named as a passenger aboard Epstein's private planes by his former pilot, Lawrence Visoski.

Jurors were also shown pictures of Virginia Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Ms Maxwell as a teenager also claiming that she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew on three separate occasions when she was 17.

Ms Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to charges of enticing and transporting minors to the multi-millionaire financier between 1994 and 2004.

High-flying couple in love

The prosecution has tried to build a picture of a couple in love, rather than a relationship of employee-boss that the defence has put forward.

The images were obtained during a 2019 FBI search of the Manhattan mansion and offer graphic insight into their high-flying lifestyle, that included trips to exotic locations on helicopters and private jets.

Lara Pomerantz, for the prosecution, told the judge, Alison Nathan, at Manhattan’s federal court on Tuesday that they would offer evidence of their “close relationship over a long time”, having previously described them as “partners in crime”.

An undated handout photo issued by US Department of Justice of Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein shown to the court - US Department of Justice
An undated handout photo issued by US Department of Justice of Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein shown to the court - US Department of Justice
An undated handout photo issued by US Department of Justice of Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein shown to the court - US Department of Justice
An undated handout photo issued by US Department of Justice of Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein shown to the court - US Department of Justice

The selection of 19 photographs shown to the jury show Epstein and Ms Maxwell enjoying various holidays - sunbathing on a yacht, next to a snowy cabin and enjoying Bloody Marys.

Other more striking photos show the British heiress massaging Epstein's feet on board his private jet, which earned the nickname the “Lolita Express”.

Maxwell massaging Epstein's feet on his jet - US Department of Justice
Maxwell massaging Epstein's feet on his jet - US Department of Justice

In another photo from the same trip, Ms Maxwell is seated opposite French model agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who was charged in Paris last year with the rape and sexual assault of minors. He denies the charges.

In more intimate shots, the 59-year-old is seen kissing Epstein’s cheek with her arms wrapped around him and another riding on the back of a motorcycle.

Pilot's testimony

On the eight day of the trial, which is set wrap up later this month, a second private pilot of Epstein’s entered the witness box on Wednesday and confirmed that the financier and Ms Maxwell were in a relationship.

“Early on they were romantically involved, but at some point during that period (1994-2004) they weren’t romantically involved,” said David Rodgers, who worked for Epstein for nearly 30 years.

The pilot said that he visited four Manhattan homes which Ms Maxwell owned over the years. In 1991 he said that she was living in a penthouse on 59th Street, which he described as “a very large residence.”

However, she moved out shortly after - at a time which coincided with her father’s death - and into a studio apartment on the upper east side of Manhattan.

Eventually she moved to a five-storey townhouse in the late 1990s, Mr Rodgers said.

Personal flight logs kept by Mr Rodgers also showed that Ms Maxwell was a passenger on the second flight on Epstein’s newly acquired Hawker Siddeley 125 on July 26, 1991 from New Jersey to Palm Beach.

This shows that she knew the financier at least four months before her father, media mogul Robert died. She has long said that she met Epstein after her father’s sudden death in 1991.

Mr Rodgers said that aside from using Epstein’s jets, Ms Maxwell had a travel air card - implying that she had access to other private planes.

The prosecution revealed this week that they will rest their case early, by tomorrow or Friday. They had initially asked the judge to set aside three-four weeks.

Last night Kevin Maxwell said that the welfare conditions faced by his sister had not improved.

He has complained to the US attorney general about insufficient food and that she is shackled on her way to and from court.

“She is still hungry,” he told the Telegraph.