In a sensational revelation that has reignited scrutiny of Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to high society, Ghislaine Maxwell, his convicted associate, claimed in newly released Department of Justice (DOJ) tapes that Epstein was set up on a date with Princess Diana and that the two dated for a time in the 1990s. The explosive testimony, given during a two-day interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in July 2025, has sent shockwaves through royal circles and the public, raising questions about the late Princess of Wales’s alleged ties to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. Maxwell’s claims, which include details of an event organized by Diana’s close friend Rosa Monckton, are muddied by an inconsistent timeline and lack of corroborating evidence, yet they have fueled intense speculation about a hidden chapter in Diana’s life. This article examines Maxwell’s statements, the context of Epstein’s elite connections, and the broader implications for the royal family, drawing from media reports, official transcripts, and public reactions.

Maxwell’s Bombshell Testimony

On August 22, 2025, the DOJ released a 380-page transcript and audio recordings of Maxwell’s interview, conducted as part of her ongoing appeal for a pardon from President Donald Trump while serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking minors to Epstein. Maxwell, 63, claimed that Epstein, who lived in London during the 1980s, mingled with “truly fancy people,” including Diana’s close friend Rosa Monckton and her husband, journalist Dominic Lawson. She suggested that Epstein attended a high-profile London event organized by Monckton, where he was allegedly set up to meet Diana. “I don’t know if he sat with Diana or he met with Diana and he’d already met her. I don’t know, but this, I believe, was organized by Rosa,” Maxwell told Blanche, adding, “I don’t know if she was being set up as a date for him, maybe because she was… I don’t want to speak bad of Diana, but… I’m not going to do that.”

Maxwell’s claim that Epstein and Diana dated for a time is particularly startling. She implied a romantic connection, stating they “went out for a while” after the event, though she provided no specific details about the duration or nature of their alleged relationship. Her hesitancy to elaborate, coupled with her acknowledgment that the event might have occurred in the early 2000s—despite Diana’s death in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997—casts doubt on the accuracy of her timeline. The inconsistency has led critics, including Representative Robert Garcia, to question Maxwell’s credibility, noting her status as a “convicted sex trafficker and known liar.”

Context of Epstein’s High-Society Connections

Epstein’s ability to infiltrate elite circles is well-documented, with his friendships spanning billionaires, politicians, and royalty, including Prince Andrew, whose association with Epstein led to his 2021 removal from royal duties following allegations by Virginia Giuffre. Maxwell’s claim about Diana adds a new dimension to Epstein’s royal connections. She suggested that Epstein’s introduction to Diana came through Monckton, a close confidante of Diana’s and godmother to one of her daughters, who met Diana in 1991 through Flecha de Lima, the wife of a former Brazilian ambassador. Maxwell also claimed that Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew’s former wife, was “putting the moves” on Epstein, further entangling the royal family in his orbit.

The notion of Epstein dating Diana is not entirely new. In 2021, journalist Michael Wolff reported in his book Too Famous that Epstein told him he had “escorted” Diana on occasion, though no photographic evidence supports this. Wolff also claimed that Epstein and Donald Trump competed to see who could “sleep with Diana first” after her 1996 divorce from Charles, viewing her as the “ultimate trophy.” Trump himself boasted on The Howard Stern Show that he “could have” slept with Diana, while broadcaster Selina Scott noted Trump’s pursuit of her with lavish flower deliveries to Kensington Palace. However, no evidence suggests a physical relationship between Diana and either man, and Maxwell’s claim of an actual dating period is the first of its kind.

Allegations of a Buried Romance

A report by RadarOnline.com on September 4, 2025, amplified Maxwell’s claims, citing sources who suggested that Diana and Epstein’s alleged romance was “buried by Buckingham Palace” to protect the royal family’s reputation, particularly given Prince Andrew’s own Epstein scandal. The source speculated that Diana, who was navigating a tumultuous post-divorce life, might have known compromising details about Andrew, potentially making her a target of Epstein’s notorious blackmail schemes. However, this theory lacks substantiation, and Buckingham Palace has not commented on the allegations, consistent with their policy of silence on Epstein-related matters.

Maxwell’s earlier statements add a darker layer to her claims about Diana. In 2020, Epstein victim Maria Farmer told The Sun that Maxwell showed her a photo of Diana, saying, “Look, there we made [Diana] cry, isn’t that funny? We hated Diana.” Farmer described Maxwell’s behavior as “abusive” and “sick,” suggesting a personal animosity toward the princess. This contrasts with Maxwell’s 2025 hesitancy to “speak bad of Diana,” raising questions about whether her latest claims are an attempt to sanitize her narrative or curry favor in her pardon bid.

Royal Family and Public Reaction

The suggestion that Diana, an iconic figure revered for her humanitarian work, dated Epstein has provoked widespread unease. The royal family, already grappling with the fallout from Prince Andrew’s Epstein ties, faces renewed scrutiny. King Charles, who recently met with Prince Harry on September 10, 2025, to discuss reconciliation, is reportedly distressed by the resurfacing of Epstein-related controversies, particularly as he undergoes cancer treatment. Prince William, the heir, has taken a firm stance against engaging with Harry over these issues, with sources telling The Daily Express that he views any association with Epstein as a threat to the monarchy’s credibility.

Public reaction on X has been polarized. Users like @RoyalWatcherUK expressed outrage, calling Maxwell’s claims “disgraceful” and an attempt to tarnish Diana’s legacy, while others, like @TruthSeeker22, speculated that Buckingham Palace’s silence suggests a cover-up. The release of nearly 34,000 pages of Epstein evidence by the House Oversight Committee on September 3, 2025, has intensified public interest, though no photos or documents explicitly linking Diana to Epstein have surfaced. The DOJ’s decision to release Maxwell’s tapes, despite objections from Epstein’s victims, who fear she is manipulating her narrative for a pardon, has further fueled conspiracy theories about a cover-up involving Trump and other elites.

Questions of Credibility and Motive

Maxwell’s claims must be viewed critically, given her history of inconsistent statements and her current legal strategy. Her denial of introducing Epstein to Prince Andrew, dismissal of a photo with Andrew and Giuffre as “fake,” and assertion that Epstein’s 2019 jail death was not suicide all align with her efforts to downplay her role in his crimes. Her praise of Trump as a “gentleman” and her transfer to a lower-security Texas prison have raised suspicions of a deal, with former Palm Beach County attorney Dave Aronberg suggesting the interview with Blanche, Trump’s former lawyer, might be designed to shield the president from Epstein-related fallout.

The timeline discrepancy—Maxwell’s reference to the early 2000s—undermines her account, as Diana’s death in 1997 makes such a meeting impossible. Some speculate Maxwell conflated events or deliberately misrepresented the timing to sensationalize her testimony. Others, like biographer Sally Bedell Smith, argue that Diana, known for her cautious approach to new relationships post-divorce, would have been unlikely to engage with someone like Epstein, whose reputation was already questionable in elite circles by the mid-1990s.

Implications for the Royal Family

The claim of a Diana-Epstein romance, even if unproven, poses significant challenges for the royal family. King Charles’s recent signing of a secret decree after meeting Harry, reported by RadarOnline.com, has already sparked tension with William and Camilla, who are wary of any moves that could further destabilize the monarchy. The Epstein allegations risk reigniting public distrust, particularly as Prince Andrew’s settlement with Giuffre and his loss of titles remain fresh in memory. Diana’s sons, William and Harry, have both expressed a desire to protect her legacy, with Harry planning a Netflix documentary on her 1997 death, set for release in 2027, which could be complicated by these claims.

The broader Epstein scandal continues to cast a shadow over elite institutions, with Maxwell’s testimony highlighting how figures like Epstein leveraged social connections to gain influence. The DOJ’s release of the tapes, intended to promote transparency, has instead amplified speculation, with critics arguing that withholding parts of the Epstein files fuels distrust. Trump’s dismissal of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax” and his openness to releasing more files have done little to quell the controversy.

Conclusion

Ghislaine Maxwell’s claim that Jeffrey Epstein was set up with Princess Diana and that they dated for a time is a provocative but unverified addition to the Epstein saga. While her testimony points to a possible meeting at a London event organized by Rosa Monckton, the lack of evidence, inconsistent timeline, and Maxwell’s questionable credibility cast doubt on the story. The allegations have nonetheless stirred royal controversy, threatening to tarnish Diana’s legacy and reignite scrutiny of the monarchy’s ties to Epstein. As the public grapples with these claims, the royal family faces the challenge of navigating a scandal that intertwines personal tragedy with global intrigue, underscoring the enduring complexity of Epstein’s web of influence.