Prince Andrew Faces New Scrutiny as Police Investigate Alleged Attempt to Obtain Accuser’s Data
The Metropolitan Police are “actively” investigating reports that Prince Andrew sought to acquire personal information about his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, potentially leveraging his police protection detail. The inquiry comes as scrutiny intensifies following the prince’s recent relinquishing of royal titles and the impending release of a posthumous memoir by Ms. Giuffre.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Sunday they were responding to media reports detailing the allegations. Ms. Giuffre, who tragically died earlier this year, was among the victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his network of wealthy associates, alleging she was subjected to sexual exploitation.
Prince Andrew has consistently denied all allegations leveled against him and has not yet publicly commented on the latest reports. Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment. Ms. Giuffre previously claimed she was sexually assaulted by the prince on three separate occasions, including an incident in 2001 at the London home of his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex-trafficking offenses related to Epstein.
According to reports in the Mail on Sunday, Prince Andrew allegedly requested his police protection officer to investigate Ms. Giuffre shortly before the newspaper published a photograph of their initial meeting in February 2011. The newspaper further alleges that the prince provided the officer with Ms. Giuffre’s date of birth and confidential social security number. The Sunday Telegraph also reported that Prince Andrew “sought to dig up dirt” on Ms. Giuffre.
The allegations have drawn concern from political figures. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, described the situation as “deeply concerning,” stating that if proven true, “it’s absolutely not the way that close protection officers should be used.”
The developments follow Prince Andrew’s announcement on Friday that he would voluntarily relinquish his titles, including membership in the Order of the Garter, and cease using the title of Duke of York. This move represents a further diminishing of his role within the royal family, having already stepped down as a “working royal” and lost the use of his HRH title.
Adding to the pressure, comments from journalist Emily Maitlis, who conducted a highly scrutinized 2019 interview with the prince on BBC Newsnight, suggest the recent actions were long overdue. Maitlis noted that “six years has been quite a long time to wait for this.” During the 2019 interview, Prince Andrew claimed to have severed ties with Epstein in 2010. However, the emergence of emails from February 2011, revealed on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, cast doubt on that assertion.
Maitlis expressed feeling “quite sick” upon reviewing the emails, which included a message from the prince reading, “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!” She argued that the tone of the correspondence does not support his claim of a definitive break with Epstein, prompting questions about the veracity of his previous statements. “You’re left really questioning, why he said that, whether the conversation ever existed, and how much more there is in that interview that we have to now go back and question,” Maitlis added.
Prince Andrew has faced ongoing legal challenges, including an out-of-court settlement with Ms. Giuffre in 2022 following a civil lawsuit. The upcoming release of Ms. Giuffre’s posthumous memoir is expected to further illuminate her experiences and the prince’s involvement with Epstein.
Ms. Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, stated on BBC Newsnight on Friday evening that his sister would have been “very proud” of the recent developments regarding Prince Andrew’s titles. However, he also called for King Charles III to go further and remove the title of prince altogether, asserting that “anybody that was implicated… should have some sort of responsibility and accountability for these survivors.”
