The Metropolitan Police are investigating claims that Prince Andrew instructed his taxpayer-funded bodyguard to gather information about Virginia Giuffre just hours before a controversial photo of them together surfaced.
Leaked emails, which reportedly show Andrew providing his Met bodyguard with Giuffre’s date of birth and confidential U.S. social security number, were described as “deeply concerning” by a government minister on Sunday. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told broadcasters that the allegations warrant investigation, stating it is “absolutely not the way that close protection officers should be used.”
According to The Mail on Sunday, Andrew allegedly sent messages in 2011 to Ed Perkins, then the queen’s deputy press secretary, claiming he had asked a close protection officer to obtain details about Giuffre. The messages indicated that Andrew provided the officer with her date of birth and social security number, asserting she had a criminal record in the U.S. This email was sent shortly before the release of the infamous photo of Andrew with the 17-year-old Giuffre.
Giuffre’s family has denied she had any criminal record, and there is no evidence that the police officer acted on the request. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed they are “aware of media reporting and are actively looking into the claims made.”
Giuffre, who died earlier this year, alleged she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions when she was 17, while being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew faces increasing pressure over his ties to Epstein, including recent reports that he was introduced to another of the financier’s victims. On Friday, he gave up his royal titles, including Duke of York, after discussions with the king, and will no longer use his HRH title or other honors. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has also relinquished her title as Duchess of York, though their daughters will retain the title of princess.
Andrew retains the dukedom, which would require an act of Parliament to revoke, and remains a prince as the son of a monarch, a status that could only be altered by a letters patent from the king.
Giuffre’s family has called on King Charles to remove Andrew’s “prince” title. Her brother, Sky Roberts, told BBC Two’s Newsnight that his sister would have been proud of the recent developments but urged the king to go further. Miliband stated that the government would follow the royal family’s lead on any further actions.The family has stated they don’t wish to occupy parliamentary time with this matter, noting that Parliament is currently focused on many other issues.
Last week, The Guardian released an excerpt from Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, where she described her initial meeting with the “entitled” prince and claimed he felt it was his birthright to have sex with her.
In his widely criticized 2019 Newsnight interview, Andrew asserted he had cut all ties with Epstein after being photographed together in New York in December 2010. However, emails from February 2011 later surfaced, indicating he had maintained contact with Epstein and even sent a message saying, “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the police investigation into Prince Andrew designed to be clear and accessible
Basic Understanding The Allegation
1 What is this story about in simple terms
Police are looking into a claim that Prince Andrew asked a senior police officer to get information about Virginia Giuffre for him which could be an abuse of power
2 Who is Virginia Giuffre
She is the woman who accused Prince Andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager allegations he has consistently denied
3 Who is Prince Andrew
He is the younger brother of King Charles III and a member of the British Royal Family
4 What exactly is Prince Andrew being accused of in this new investigation
He is not being directly accused of a crime in this specific case Instead the police are investigating whether he improperly used his position to ask a police officer to gather information on his accuser Virginia Giuffre
The Investigation Legal Context
5 Which police force is investigating this
The City of London Police which is the police force for the UKs main financial district is handling the inquiry
6 Why is this a big deal
If true it suggests a member of the Royal Family may have tried to use their influence to interfere with or gather information on a legal accuser which is a serious allegation of misconduct and potential obstruction
7 Has Prince Andrew been charged with anything related to this
No This is an investigation into an allegation It is a factfinding process and does not mean he will be charged
8 Is this a criminal investigation
Yes the police are conducting a criminal investigation to determine if any laws were broken specifically regarding misconduct in public office
9 What is misconduct in public office
Its a criminal offense in the UK that occurs when a public official like a police officer wilfully neglects their duty or acts inappropriately in a way that amounts to an abuse of the publics trust
Deeper Questions Implications
10 How is this different from the lawsuit Virginia Giuffre filed against him
Her lawsuit was a civil case in the United States about personal injury This police investigation is a criminal probe in the UK about potential abuse of power by a public official
