It is the picture that has haunted Prince Andrew for nearly a decade.

Strolling through New York’s Central Park with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, it shows the close friendship between the men in 2010 – two years after the US financier pleaded guilty to child sex charges in a controversial deal that saw him serve just 13 months.

But last week it was claimed the infamous shot may have been orchestrated by Epstein in a bid to boost his image.

It has also previously been alleged that a separate photograph of Andrew with his arm around former ‘sex slave’ Virginia Roberts may have been faked as part of an elaborate ‘stitch-up’.

Last week it was claimed the infamous shot of Epstein and Prince Andrew may have been orchestrated by Epstein in a bid to boost his image

The Mail on Sunday last week retraced photographer Jae Donnelly’s footsteps to find the exact spot in Central Park where the now-infamous shot of Andrew and Epstein was taken

Andrew – who has always vehemently denied Ms Roberts’s claim that Epstein forced her to have sex with the Prince three times, the first when she was aged just 17 – reportedly authorised his inner circle to hire a forensics team to examine the two photographs.

Nine years on, the Mail on Sunday shows how the Central Park snap was taken The Mail on Sunday last week retraced photographer Jae Donnelly’s footsteps to find the exact spot in Central Park where the now-infamous shot of Andrew and Epstein was taken. Donnelly followed the pair as they entered the park and initially took a few frames from ground level. But realising he needed a clearer view, he ran back out of the park and along 5th Avenue, jumped over a small wall to re-enter the park, then scaled some slippery rocks, circled right. It was from this elevated position that he captured the two men, who were unaware of his presence. At the time, Donnelly had an uninterrupted view from the ledge. However, nine years on, trees partially block the spot, circled top right, where the men chatted. Advertisement

Referring to the Central Park image, a source told The Sunday Times: ‘The protection team never saw a photo being taken. The only way that it could have been taken is from a height. It is taken from an apartment looking down on the park… Only Epstein knew where they were going to walk.’

But that suggestion was last night dismissed as ‘preposterous’ by freelance reporter Annette Witheridge, who was with photographer Jae Donnelly on the day the picture was taken.

‘It was categorically not staged,’ she said. ‘The picture was the result of old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting. I know, I was there.’

Questions over the credibility of the photographs came as a spin doctor hired by Andrew to help rebuild his reputation quit after less than a month.

Friends of Jason Stein, 28, who previously worked for former Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, insisted he had no involvement in the fake-pictures claims. He is due to start a new PR job tomorrow.

Nonetheless, his abrupt departure will be seen as a further blow to the Prince, who has been dogged by negative stories since Epstein – who faced multiple child sex charges – killed himself in jail in August.

Ms Witheridge says she and Donnelly sat outside Epstein’s mansion on December 5, 2010, after learning the Prince was in New York on a private visit. She said: ‘There were men with walkie-talkies with British accents so it didn’t take a genius to figure out Andrew was there.’

Questions over the credibility of the photographs came as a spin doctor, Jason Stein (pictured), hired by Andrew to help rebuild his reputation quit after less than a month

The Prince and Epstein left the mansion at about 1.40pm. Donnelly followed on foot and took a picture from ground level before scrambling up some rocks to get a clearer shot

The Prince and Epstein left the mansion at about 1.40pm. Donnelly followed on foot and took a picture from ground level before scrambling up some rocks to get a clearer shot. ‘The fact no one saw the picture being taken is testament to the photographer’s skill,’ added Ms Witheridge. ‘It’s preposterous to say there was any kind of conspiracy.’ Mr Donnelly confirmed Ms Witheridge’s version of events.

In August, friends of Andrew raised questions about a picture of him with Ms Roberts, allegedly taken by Epstein in 2001. They say the fingers wrapped around her waist were not ‘chubby’ enough to be the Prince’s. However, the FBI considers the shot genuine.