Additional Coverage:
- Prince Andrew being investigated for allegedly asking bodyguard to get accuser’s personal information: report (foxnews.com)
Prince Andrew Under Scrutiny Again: Police Investigate Alleged Request for Accuser’s Private Information
London, UK – Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is reportedly facing a new investigation by the Metropolitan Police concerning allegations that he directed one of his taxpayer-funded personal protection officers to gather sensitive personal information about Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre previously accused the royal of sexual abuse when she was a minor.
The investigation stems from leaked emails, published by The Mail on Sunday on October 19th, which suggest Andrew, 65, provided Giuffre’s date of birth and Social Security number to his bodyguard. The emails also reportedly hinted at the possibility of Giuffre having a criminal record in the U.S.
These emails are said to have been sent just hours before the 2011 release of a widely circulated photograph depicting Andrew with Giuffre, who was underage at the time. Giuffre tragically died by suicide in April at the age of 41. The Mail on Sunday’s report clarified that there is no indication the officer acted upon the alleged request, and Giuffre’s family has since stated she did not have a criminal record.
“We are aware of media reporting and are actively looking into the claims made,” a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told The Guardian, confirming their attention to the matter.
Representatives for the Metropolitan Police and Buckingham Palace have not yet responded to requests for comment. Buckingham Palace had previously stated they do not comment on Prince Andrew, as he is no longer a working royal.
The allegations have drawn strong reactions, with U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband describing them as “deeply concerning” during an appearance on BBC One’s “Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.” Miliband emphasized the need for an investigation, stating, “It’s absolutely not the way that close protection officers should be used.”
These new reports surface just days after Prince Andrew announced his decision to relinquish his royal titles and honors. This move followed persistent accusations linking him to the late Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.
On Friday, Andrew released a statement after excerpts from Giuffre’s upcoming posthumous memoir were published. In the memoir, Giuffre detailed her claims of being trafficked by Epstein and convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell, and having sexual encounters with Andrew when she was 17.
“In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Andrew’s statement read. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.”
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further,” the statement continued. “I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
While he will no longer be referred to as the Duke of York, Prince Andrew retains his title as a prince due to his birth as the son of the late Queen Elizabeth. His “Royal Highness” title has been inactive since 2019, when he stepped down from official royal duties.
Giuffre’s family issued a statement after Andrew’s announcement, calling it a “vindication for our sister and survivors everywhere.” They added, “This decisive action is a powerful step forward in our fight to bring Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s child sex-trafficking network to justice. Further, we believe it is appropriate for King Charles to remove the title of Prince.”
The family also referenced alleged emails between Epstein and Prince Andrew from 2011, which they believe contradict the royal’s claim that he cut off contact with the multi-millionaire in 2010.
“We hope that the days of impunity for the powerful are over, and protection for predators will no longer be tolerated,” the family’s statement concluded. “We hope a higher standard has been set for our leaders in office in the United States – one we will work tirelessly to follow here. It is time for accountability, transparency, and justice for all survivors.”
In 2021, Giuffre filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against Andrew in New York, which he vehemently denied, claiming he had never met her and that the infamous photograph might be doctored. After a U.S. judge rejected Andrew’s attempt to dismiss the case, both parties reached an out-of-court settlement in February 2022. Andrew did not admit liability but agreed to pay Giuffre an undisclosed sum and contribute to a charity supporting abuse victims.