Convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein asked Prince Andrew to arrange a dinner with the attractive daughter of the former Australian prime minister, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
In an email dated February 16, 2011 – part of The Epstein Files currently being reviewed by the US Congress – Epstein wrote to Andrew saying: ‘Would you ask Katherine Keating if she would like to come for dinner with Woody Allen next week in New York?’ to which the prince replied: ‘Will do.’
Two days later, on the eve of Andrew’s 51st birthday, Epstein wrote: ‘What will you do tomorrow? Sorry I cannot be there as you get older.’
Andrew responded: ‘Having a very quiet day. But a dinner party in the evening. On the Keating case.’
Socialite Ms Keating, who was 29 at the time, is the daughter of Paul Keating, the Australian PM from 1991 to 1996 who was dubbed ‘The Lizard of Oz’ in 1992 when he placed his arm around Queen Elizabeth.
Ms Keating confirmed Andrew ‘fixed’ her 2011 dinner with Epstein.
Addressing her links to Epstein for the first time she told the MoS: ‘I did attend a February dinner at Andrew’s invitation – a large social event.’
The brunette was famously photographed waving goodbye to Andrew two months earlier when he stayed at Epstein’s New York mansion and the financier hosted another dinner.
Prince Andrew waves to Katherine Keating, the daughter of former Australian PM Paul Keating, at Epstein’s New York mansion in December 2010
Ms Keating (pictured), now 44, confirmed Andrew ‘fixed’ her 2011 dinner with Jeffrey Epstein
Ms Keating, now 44, said: ‘It was a large social event. A sizable chunk of NY society was there, including [American broadcasters] Barbara Walters, Charlie Rose and Katie Couric.
‘At the time, I had only lived in NY about ten weeks, and was happy to accept the odd social invitation.’
It is not suggested that Ms Keating engaged in, or had any knowledge of, any improper or illegal conduct by Epstein or any of his associates.
Andrew told Emily Maitlis during his infamous Newsnight interview that he had visited Epstein in New York to break off contact.
The pair were pictured in Central Park together during that visit.
The MoS recently revealed that, despite those claims Andrew continued to keep in touch with Epstein, promising to ‘play some more soon’ in one 2011 email.
It is not known how Ms Keating came into Andrew’s orbit.
Some reports have suggested she was friends with Andrew’s friend and Epstein’s ‘madam’ Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving 20 years for sex trafficking.
