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Epstein survivor urges Palace to investigate Andrew’s files

Juliette Bryant is urging the Palace to take action in response to the disclosures surrounding Prince Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein.

A woman who claims to have been abused by Jeffrey Epstein is urging Buckingham Palace to conduct a thorough search of its files and emails related to Prince Andrew's association with the convicted sex offender.

Juliette Bryant, now aged 43, has long brown hair with a fringe and stands outside with a serious expression
Bryant said she would like to see the Palace "actually taking action"

In an interview with the BBC, Juliette Bryant expressed her approval of a recent statement from the King, in which he expressed his willingness to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate allegations against his brother.

However, Bryant believes the Royal Family should take more concrete actions to uncover the truth about Prince Andrew's relationship with Epstein, who was a convicted paedophile.

Although Bryant never met Prince Andrew and has not made any allegations against him, a Palace spokesperson has stated that the King is deeply concerned about the allegations surrounding his brother.

Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his friendship with Epstein.

During an interview at her residence in Cape Town, South Africa, 43-year-old Bryant shared her experiences with the BBC.

Regarding the Palace's recent statement, Bryant questioned whether they would take tangible actions, saying, "It's positive that they've made a statement, but will they actually follow through on it?"

As a former aspiring model and victim of Epstein's abuse, Bryant stated that she and other survivors are willing to cooperate with the Palace, but she hopes their words are not just empty promises.

Bryant emphasized the need for the Palace, as well as law enforcement and other authorities, to thoroughly examine Prince Andrew's files and emails.

She noted that authorities had previously reviewed her personal information and records related to her interactions with Epstein.

Bryant argued that it is only fair that Prince Andrew's information be scrutinized, given his close friendship with Epstein.

She believes that if the Palace has nothing to hide, they should release relevant information to demonstrate transparency.

A Palace spokesperson reiterated the King's commitment to addressing the allegations against Prince Andrew, stating that he has expressed his deep concern through both words and actions.

Juliette Bryant pictured in a headshot on Epstein's island in 2002. She is smiling and has her hair in a ponytail and is stood in front of a window with the blinds open at night
Juliette Bryant, who said she was abused by Epstein, has made no allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The spokesperson added that the Palace is prepared to support the Thames Valley Police if they are approached for assistance, as would be expected.

The Palace also extended its sympathies to the victims of abuse, emphasizing that their thoughts and concerns remain with those affected.

Amy Wallace, co-author of Virginia Giuffre's memoir, welcomed the Palace's seemingly more robust response to the allegations against Prince Andrew.

In an interview with BBC Woman's Hour, Wallace observed that the Palace's statement appeared to be more direct, specifically addressing Prince Andrew's conduct rather than simply expressing general concern for survivors.

However, Wallace expressed doubts about whether Prince Andrew would ultimately cooperate with US authorities and testify about his connections to Epstein.

She suggested that the only way to compel Prince Andrew to testify would be for King Charles to instruct him to do so.

Last month, the US Department of Justice released over three million files related to Epstein.

The latest batch of documents included photographs of Prince Andrew in a compromising position with a woman.

The files also suggest that Prince Andrew may have shared confidential information with Epstein during his tenure as a trade envoy in 2010 and 2011.

Bryant recounted meeting Epstein at a Cape Town restaurant in 2002, when she was 20 years old and he was 49.

She described being abused by Epstein on multiple occasions, both on his island and at his ranch in New Mexico, between 2002 and 2004, and feeling intimidated and fearful.

Bryant characterized Epstein as a cunning and manipulative individual, and stated that she was unable to cope with the situation due to her youth and vulnerability.

She also emphasized that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and a convicted sex trafficker, played a significant role in her abuse and should not be granted early release from prison.

A photograph of a photo of Juliette wearing a white bikini and flip flops while  on a quad bike on Epstein's island in 2002
Bryant said she was 20 when she met Epstein, who was 49 at the time

Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence, declined to answer questions at a US congressional hearing, with her lawyer stating that she would only cooperate if offered clemency.

Bryant described being frightened of Maxwell, who she perceived as being in control and confident, during her time on Epstein's island.

Entertainment And Arts

Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards
James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026
Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

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Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

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FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.

We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.

Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?

Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?

Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.

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