The Microsoft founder told the committee he encountered Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor twice during official visits to the UK
Bill Gates informed Congress that he never had any conversations about Jeffrey Epstein with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, according to a newly released transcript from his appearance before the House Oversight Committee on June 10.
The Microsoft founder testified during a closed-door session as part of the committee's inquiry into the convicted sex offender and how US authorities handled the case.
During questioning, the tech billionaire described how Epstein had kept a photograph showing Mr Gates and Mr Mountbatten-Windsor together at an official UK function, despite the financier never attending their meetings.
"Weirdly in the set of photos that I guess Epstein kept, there is a photo of me and prince Andrew at one of those official state meetings," Mr Gates stated.
He conceded that his association with Epstein "was a grave error in judgment".
Mr Gates told the committee he had encountered Mr Mountbatten-Windsor on two occasions during official visits to the United Kingdom, when the former prince was serving in a role similar to trade representative. Pictures show Mr Mountbatten-Windsor meeting Mr Gates at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in 2007 and later in London in 2018.
When pressed on whether these interactions involved any discussion of the convicted paedophile, Mr Gates was emphatic.
"Never about Jeffrey Epstein," he stated, adding: "But nothing in connection with Epstein, even though Epstein seemed to have that picture and it shows up in the Epstein files."
Asked directly whether Epstein had attended either function where the photograph was taken, Mr Gates responded: "No, no, I never saw him in the UK, and those were both meetings in the UK."
The undated image shows both men in suits and ties in what appears to be a formal setting.
The photograph of Mr Gates and Mr Mountbatten-Winds was among a collection from Epstein's personal files released by Democrats on the oversight committee at the end of last year.
The cache also contained pictures of Epstein alongside Donald Trump before his presidency, former president Bill Clinton, Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson and filmmaker Woody Allen.
More items in Epstein's collection included photographs of sex toys with accompanying safety instructions.
The financier was discovered dead in his Manhattan federal jail cell in August 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, with his death subsequently ruled a suicide.
His accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite, is currently serving a 20-year sentence in the United States for procuring young girls for Epstein's abuse.
Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life last year, had alleged that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor sexually assaulted her as a teenager after Epstein trafficked her.
Mr Mountbatten-Winds has consistently denied these claims and reached an out-of-court settlement with Mrs Giuffre in 2022, with no admission of guilt.
The King removed his brother's royal titles last year following disclosures about his Epstein connections, forcing Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to vacate his Windsor residence for the monarch's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
He was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office relating to his Epstein ties, and released on the same evening under investigation. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.