Royal Family Signals Unprecedented Support for Police Probe into Prince Andrew
Buckingham Palace has issued a remarkable statement, signalling its readiness to cooperate fully with any police investigation into allegations surrounding Prince Andrew. King Charles III expressed his “profound concern” regarding the escalating claims against his brother, marking an unprecedented intervention from the monarchy. This development comes as detectives are reportedly scrutinising new accusations that the former Duke of York leaked confidential information to Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy.
Hours before the Palace’s statement, the Prince and Princess of Wales publicly addressed the growing scandal. They conveyed their “deep concern by developments” and stated their “thoughts remain focused on the victims.” This coordinated response from senior royals could potentially pave the way for a comprehensive criminal inquiry into Prince Andrew’s past dealings.
The renewed focus on Prince Andrew’s alleged misconduct stems from an expanded investigation by Thames Valley Police. The force confirmed it is examining new claims following a complaint lodged by the anti-monarchy group Republic. This follows an announcement last week that Thames Valley Police was assessing separate allegations, also brought forward by Republic. These allegations suggest that a second woman was allegedly sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Prince Andrew in 2010, echoing claims previously made by Virginia Giuffre in 2014.
Prince Andrew himself has not directly addressed these latest allegations. However, he has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his association with Jeffrey Epstein and has maintained he had no knowledge of the disgraced financier’s sex crimes.
The pressure on the King to issue a public statement has been mounting significantly, particularly in the wake of the US Department of Justice’s release of millions of documents related to the Epstein case.
These newly released files have reportedly provided a substantial amount of evidence shedding light on the close relationship Prince Andrew maintained with the convicted sex offender. The documents are understood to include emails that appear to indicate Prince Andrew shared confidential reports and investment opportunities with Epstein. This occurred while Andrew served as the UK’s trade envoy in Asia between 2010 and 2011, a period following Epstein’s release from prison after serving time for child sex offences.
Buckingham Palace’s statement last night articulated the King’s position clearly: “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct. While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect.”
The Palace also reiterated a statement made on behalf of His Majesty last year, which was the first by a senior royal concerning Epstein’s victims. This statement affirmed: “As was previously stated, Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.”
It is understood that Buckingham Palace has not yet been contacted by the police. However, the statement was a deliberate move to signal the institution’s willingness to cooperate with any official inquiries. The Palace’s statement is not believed to directly refer to earlier allegations concerning Prince Andrew’s alleged sexual conduct, including claims that a second woman was trafficked by Epstein for sexual purposes involving him at Royal Lodge.
The emails disclosed by the US Department of Justice reportedly suggest that Prince Andrew shared details of his official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore during his time as a trade envoy.
Thames Valley Police is now investigating Prince Andrew after he was reported for suspected misconduct in public office and a potential breach of the Official Secrets Act. The latter offence carries a maximum penalty of a life sentence.
Evidence suggests that an email sent in November 2010, containing sensitive information, was forwarded by Prince Andrew just five minutes after it was initially sent by his then-special advisor, Amit Patel. Furthermore, on Christmas Eve of the same year, Prince Andrew allegedly shared a briefing document with Epstein concerning an investment opportunity in the reconstruction of Helmand province in Afghanistan.
At the time these messages were exchanged, Prince Andrew was actively serving as a trade envoy, engaging in meetings and discussions for over a decade until 2011. Crucially, these communications occurred two years after Epstein was convicted for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
For the latest allegations to proceed, Thames Valley Police will need to determine if Prince Andrew can be legally classified as a ‘public officer’. Sources indicate that the force may need to seek legal advice and request disclosure from the government regarding any official documents signed by Prince Andrew to ascertain if an offence has been committed. A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police confirmed that the information is being assessed in accordance with their standard procedures.
Dai Davies, a former head of royal protection, has publicly stated that he has been advocating for Prince Andrew to “face prosecution for six years” and has urged the police to take decisive action. In a separate but related development, Scotland Yard is reportedly investigating Peter Mandelson over allegations that he transmitted market-sensitive information to Epstein during the financial crisis. Mr Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing.
