Prince Andrew's ex-girlfriend Lady Victoria claims that she was used as a "bait" by Ghislaine Maxwell, describes her as an “accomplice” to Epstein
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Prince Andrew's ex-girlfriend Lady Victoria claims that she was used as a "bait" by Ghislaine Maxwell, describes her as an “accomplice” to Epstein
Prince Andrew will be bracing for fresh claims as ITV's documentary Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile revealed a new account from his former lover Lady Victoria Hervey.
The 44-year-old daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol claimed that Ghislaine Maxwell used her as a "bait" to entertain Jeffrey Epstein's friends, emphasising that the convicted paedophile 'kind of sat back and sort of waited for her [Maxwell] to sort of go fishing'.
The former socialite said that she was "really young and naïve' at the time" when she met Maxwell — who she described as an "accomplice" to Epstein — 20 years ago.
Lady Victoria at the Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile. Credit: ITV.
"Jeffrey was really the frontman and Ghislaine was the accomplice. It was kind of like Batman and Robin, and they were a double act. I don't think Jeffrey could have done any of it without Ghislaine," Lady Victoria said.
ITV's Ranvir Singh, who presented that documentary, asked: "And Ghislaine was crucial to getting those girls, was she, do you think to those dinners?"
Lady Victoria replied: "I think he just kind of sat back and sort of waiting for her to sort of go fishing and go find however many girls were needed, you know, to entertain his friends. I think I was pretty much used as bait."
"You know, looking back at it, you know I was really young and naive, and she's entertaining these, you know, big businessmen. So I didn't realise it of course at the time, but looking back..."
Lady Victoria said that she was "really young and naïve' at the time" when she met Maxwell 20 years ago. Credit: Getty Images.
The former socialite also made an appearance on ITV's Lorraine where she talked about how the 'very private' Maxwell was also a 'victim' of the convicted paedophile.
"She is a scapegoat right now, so unfortunately for her, she is being taken down for what he has done as well. Some might argue it is not quite as fair as it could be," she told the TV presenter.
"I mean to be honest I think Ghislaine was a victim and is a victim. She was a victim that then became the accomplice as her role changed in that relationship when they were no longer together. She kind of switched sides. I do see her as a victim as well."
It should be noted that the 60-year-old media heiress was convicted of facilitating the sexual abuse of minors by her former partner, Epstein, last month on December 29.
Maxwell was found guilty on five of six counts of sex trafficking and is set to be sentenced on June 28.
Lady Victoria appeared in an interview with ITV’s Lorraine where she talked about more details on her relationship with Maxwell and Epstein. Credit: ITV.
Lorraine then asked Lady Victoria about her own connections with Epstein and Maxwell: "Why do you think, if you were just an ordinary girl with no connections, do you think she specifically wanted you in that place?"
Lady Victoria replied: "At the time I was the IT girl of London, on the social scene, everyone knew me, I was at every dinner event. It was a plus having me on her list of who to invite."
"It probably kept it more interesting for all the men she was entertaining. Obviously, you want to have attractive girls who are the hot girls in London at the time."
The former IT girl also emphasised that Maxwell was an accessory for Epstein, describing them as "definitely a double act".
"It wouldn't have worked with him on his own. It was a lot easier for her to approach other women being a female," she said.
"Girls would feel less intimidated and less scared, rather than a man. It would have been a lot less obvious in that respect."
While Lady Victoria regrets the mortifying experience, she confessed that she "had fun at the time".
"I was so naive. People in my situation that were really young, of course, we were going to get taken advantage of. We were just a pretty face to have entertain people. I was one of the lucky ones and I'm aware of that."
She also confessed that she had no idea what the goals of the parties with the group were, saying: "Besides the situation of having a feeling there were video cameras in the apartment, it was social gatherings and dinner parties. It all seemed very fun at the time."
"This is in the early 2000s when no one had any idea of what people found out later on but in the early 2000s, people wanted Ghislaine and Jeffrey at all their events. They were invited there everywhere."
Elsewhere in the interview, the former socialite said that she "had followed some of the trials" but was "a bit disappointed" because the public "hadn't learned anything new' and because the trial wasn't televised she felt 'a detachment from it".
"She hasn't really named any new names yet. I'm hoping...that she will start giving out names. I don't think we're quite there yet."
She also recalled her dinner with Maxwell, Epstein, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, pondering: "Is it to make them feel important? I suppose so and I think it was business being conducted at the same time through these introductions of powerful different people together."
"So I don't know exactly what business deals did happen at those dinners, but for sure, you know, things obviously did."
But Lorraine argued that the victims and the public consider Maxwell just as guilty as the convicted paedophile.
Lady Victoria also commented on the infamous photograph of Andrew and his accuser Virginia Giuffre, saying: "That was stupid."
The infamous photo of Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell. Credit: Handout/US District Court.
The 44-year-old was also asked about the rumour that Prince Andrew and Maxwell had an intimate relationship, to which she replied with: "No. I mean, she was really quite private about a lot, but obviously, they were good friends. You can just tell by the body language when you see people when they're good friends."
Prince Andrew was stripped of his titles on Thursday and will be facing trial as a private citizen.
Meanwhile, Maxwell is awaiting her sentence on June 28.