The police watchdog has contacted the Metropolitan Police over allegations that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor asked an officer to seek information about his sexual abuse accuser.
According to a 2011 email leaked last month, the former prince asked his tax-funded police bodyguard to investigate Virginia Giuffre and passed him her date of birth and social security number. Andrew has not commented on the claim.
The Metropolitan Police said last month it was “actively investigating” the allegation.
In a statement, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed that it had contacted the Met but that the force had not referred itself to the watchdog, meaning it was not investigating. A spokesperson said: “We have had contact with the Met who confirmed that no referral has been made and as a result we are not involved in these matters.”
Meanwhile, the former prince has been warned that Epstein investigators will “find every piece of information out there” if he refuses to testify before the US Congress.
Credit: BBC Radio 4/The Today Program
Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the US oversight committee, said officials “wouldn’t let this go” and told Andrew that speaking to the committee would be a “great way” for him to “clear his name.”
Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme, Subramanyam said: “I would like you to come to our committee and tell us everything you know about Jeffrey Epstein and the crimes that were committed.
“I think this would be a great way for Andrew to clear his name, it would be a great way for us to continue our pursuit of justice for the victims, and frankly, Andrew’s name has come up many times among victims… so he clearly has knowledge of what happened, and we just want him to come forward and tell us what he knows.”
The US House Oversight Committee is investigating how Epstein, who died in jail in New York in 2019, evaded justice for so long.
In September, the committee released the disgraced pedophile’s infamous “birthday book,” a 238-page album compiled by his then-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking of girls.
Asked what additional evidence the committee might uncover, Mr. Subramanyam responded: “This is what I would say to Andrew and anyone else: Even if they don’t come forward with information, we will find as much information as possible. We are not going to let this slide.”
Andrew had tarnished the royal family’s reputation with his association with Epstein and was dogged for many years by allegations that he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after the late financier trafficked her.
He has strenuously denied the allegations.
Last week, Buckingham Palace announced that the King had removed his younger brother’s remaining titles, including the right to be called Prince Andrew. The Palace also moved to evict him from Royal Lodge, his home for more than two decades.
It emerged on Friday that Mountbatten Windsor will not be moving from its 30-bedroom property in Windsor to its new home on the King’s private Sandringham estate until the new year, meaning it will not be there when the royal family gathers for Christmas.
Andrew’s current home, Royal Lodge, which he will leave in the new year – Shutterstock
The former Duke of York is expected to receive compensation for giving up the lease on his house (possibly up to £550,000), as well as an annual stipend from the king’s private funds. Sources told The Guardian this could be several times his £20,000 annual Royal Navy pension.
The Telegraph has also learned that concerns about how the Queen’s work with survivors of sexual abuse could be compromised were part of the discussions that led to her banishment.
Jonathan Dimbleby, the king’s biographer, told The Telegraph that His Majesty would feel “enormous relief” that his brother’s situation was now resolved, allowing the king to “move on” and continue his work as sovereign.
The King’s fears that there would be further revelations about Andrew’s association with Epstein proved well-founded on Friday when more court documents were made public in a New York court.
They included an email from Andrew to Epstein in which he said it would be “nice to catch up in person” after Epstein was released from prison for prostituting minors.
Andrew is eighth in line to the throne and only an act of Parliament could prevent him from becoming king. Sir Keir Starmer has so far resisted pressure to alter the royal succession, with Downing Street saying there were “no plans” to do so.
Although it is highly unlikely that Mountbatten Windsor will ever ascend to the throne, it is not impossible. The three royals directly ahead of him in the line of succession are Prince Harry and his children, who, as a young family in the United States, are unlikely candidates to serve as monarchs. The other four are the Prince of Wales and his children.