Prince Andrew believed having sex with me was his birthright': Virginia Giuffre on her abuse at the hands of Epstein, Maxwell and the King's brother

"I can still remember walking on to the manicured grounds of Mar-a-Lago for the first time. It was early morning my dad's shift began at 7am, and I'd caught a ride to work with him. Already the air was heavy and moist, and the club's 20 acres of carefully landscaped greens and lawns seemed to shimmer. My dad was responsible for maintaining the resort's in-room air-conditioning units, not to mention its five championship tennis courts, so he knew his way around."

"I remember he gave me a brief tour before presenting me to the hiring manager, who agreed to take me on. That first day, I was given a uniform a white polo shirt, emblazoned with the Mar-a-Lago crest, and a short white skirt and a name tag that said JENNA in all capital letters. (Although I was called Virginia, everyone at home called me Jenna.)"

"After a few days, my dad said he wanted to introduce me to Mr Trump himself. They weren't friends, exactly. But Dad worked hard, and Trump liked that I'd seen photos of them posing together, shaking hands. So one day my father took me to Trump's office. This is my daughter, Dad said, and his voice sounded proud. Trump couldn't have been friendlier, telling me it was fantastic that I was there."

"The spa, like the resort itself, was gilded, with luxe finishes and an immaculate, sparkling decor. There were giant gold bathtubs, like something a god would soak in. I marvelled at how peaceful everyone seemed to feel within its walls. My duties making tea, tidying the bathrooms, restocking towels kept me just outside the inner sanctum of the massage rooms, but I could see how relaxed clients looked when they emerged."

A young woman from a working-class family began working at Mar-a-Lago alongside her father, who maintained air-conditioning units and tennis courts. She received a uniform and a name tag reading JENNA. Her father introduced her to Donald Trump, who was friendly and suggested she babysit for wealthy guests, leading to extra income. The resort's spa impressed her with gilded decor, giant gold bathtubs, and a peaceful atmosphere. Her duties—making tea, tidying bathrooms, restocking towels—kept her outside the massage rooms, where she observed relaxed clients and imagined that training in hospitality could open opportunities for a better future.

Read at www.theguardian.com