Prince Andrew is currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police for allegedly requesting his taxpayer-funded personal protection officer to gather personal information about Virginia Giuffre, who has claimed that the royal family sexually abused her when she was a minor.
Leaked emails suggest that Andrew, 65, provided Giuffre’s date of birth and Social Security number to his bodyguard and implied she might have a criminal record in the U.S. These emails reportedly surfaced just hours before a controversial 2011 photograph of Andrew with an underage Giuffre was released. Notably, Giuffre took her own life in April at the age of 41, and her family maintains she had no criminal history.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated that they are aware of the media reports and are actively looking into the allegations.
Representatives from both the Metropolitan Police and Buckingham Palace have not responded to requests for comments. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace previously indicated that they refrain from commenting on matters involving Prince Andrew, who is no longer part of the working royal family.
In a separate context, British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband expressed on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that the allegations are “very worrying” and warrant investigation. He emphasized that a secret protection officer should not be utilized in such a manner.
The leaked emails emerged shortly after Andrew announced he was stepping back from his royal titles and honors, largely due to his associations with Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while facing federal charges related to sex trafficking.
Andrew’s recent public statement explained that he felt the continuing allegations would interfere with King Charles’s work and the royal family. He stated he has prioritized his duty to his family and country by standing down from public life and relinquishing his titles. Although he will no longer be referred to as the Duke of York, Andrew retains his title as a prince, being the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
After the news of Andrew’s decision, Giuffre’s family released a statement, asserting that they view his renunciation of title as a sign of vindication for survivors globally. They believe it reflects their ongoing fight for justice against Epstein and his associates.
Giuffre’s family pointed out that recent allegations of email communication between Epstein and Andrew contradict the royal family’s earlier claims that their communications ceased in 2010. They expressed hope that the era of impunity for powerful individuals is diminishing and called for accountability and justice for survivors.
In 2021, Giuffre filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against Andrew in New York, which he denied. The royal family initially claimed they had never met her, suggesting that any photographs could be fake. Eventually, the two parties reached a settlement in February 2022, following a U.S. judge’s rejection of Andrew’s dismissal request. Although he denied liability, Andrew agreed to pay Giuffre an undisclosed sum, which would be donated to a charity supporting victims of abuse.
