A mystery brunette seen in a video showing Prince Andrew inside convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s New York mansion is reportedly the socialite daughter of a former Australian prime minister.
The video shows the Duke of York peering out from a large door of the Manhattan townhouse waving goodbye to a woman after Epstein leaves to get in a chauffeur-driven car.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald and DailyMail.com – it is Katherine Keating, now 37, whose father Paul Keating was Australia’s PM between 1991 and 1996.
Footage shows duke inside Epstein’s mansion
The Herald reports her friends describing the woman in the footage as having “a striking resemblance” to Keating, “right down to the beauty spot on her left cheek”.
Her friends reportedly confirmed to DailyMail.com that the woman was Keating.
The ex-PM’s secretary told the outlet he was “aware of what the enquiry was about, but he would not be making a comment”.
Katherine Keating seen leaving Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. Pic: Mail on Sunday
Prince Andrew is seen waving goodbye to the mystery brunette from Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. Pic: Mail on Sunday
The video was reportedly shot on 6 December 2010, around the time the Duke of York was photographed with disgraced billionaire Epstein in New York’s Central Park.
Around two months earlier, Keating reportedly left Sydney to move to New York to be closer to her then-partner – hotel magnate Andre Balazs.
She was photographed with Balazs at a fundraising dinner at Salon Millesime at the Carlton Hotel in New York City on November 5, 2010 – around a month before the clip of Andrew at Epstein’s New York residence is believed to have been taken.
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Balazs’ name was listed among celebrities and high society contacts – including Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson – in Epstein’s “little black book”.
Katherine Keating with her then-partner Andre Balazs at the Carlton Hotel on 5 November, 2010 in New York City
There is no suggestion that those named in the book uncovered by the FBI, or pictured at Epstein’s properties, were involved in any wrongdoing or met the billionaire financier.
Epstein had a social circle that included princes and presidents, including Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
Andrew, 59, has been dogged by accusations of a lack of judgement about his links with Epstein, who was found hanged in his prison cell in New York on 10 August while awaiting trial for charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy.
He has said he is “appalled” by the recent sex abuse claims surrounding Epstein and the suggestion he would “condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent”.
Epstein was a registered sex offender after pleading guilty in 2008 to Florida state charges of unlawfully paying a teenage girl for sex.
Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell pose together in February 2000
The 66-year-old’s death sparked outrage as he was facing a 45-year sentence if convicted of multiple counts of sexually abusing under-age girls.
But Attorney General William Barr said investigations will continue into the actions of “anyone who was complicit with Epstein”.
Sarah Ferguson with Ghislane Maxwell in New York City on 8 December 2003
A number of well-known names had been implicated in the case and prosecutors had said Epstein’s behaviour was aided by co-conspirators who recruited his victims.
Among those in the spotlight, according to NBC News, is his former girlfriend Briton Ghislaine Maxwell, media magnate Robert Maxwell’s daughter, who was a long time member of Esptein’s inner social circle.
Keating conducted a video interview with Ms Maxwell in 2014 for the Huffington Post about the importance of oceans.
