Scotland Yard last night said it would not rule out investigating sexual assault claims against Prince Andrew.
As family rallied around the King’s brother at his Windsor mansion, Met chiefs said detectives would assess any ‘new and relevant’ information.
Anti-monarchy group Republic reported Andrew to police on Thursday after newly-released legal documents thrust his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein back into the spotlight.
The court files contained claims that the prince knew of Epstein’s sex trafficking, committed ‘acts of sexual abuse’ and took part in an ‘underage orgy’. He has vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations against him.
But pressure mounted on the Yard to act after both Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak were put on the spot over the claims. Sir Keir, who is a former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, told LBC Radio that ‘credible’ accusations should be investigated whoever they relate to.
Prince Andrew pictured walking with Jeffrey Epstein in New York’s Central Park in 2011
Prince Andrew was last seen publicly at Sandringham on Christmas Day 2023
Virginia Giuffre (centre) photographed with Prince Andrew (left) and Ghislaine Maxwell in the latter’s London mews home in early 2001
The Labour leader added: ‘I’ve seen the headlines on this, not the detail, but, frankly, whoever it is, where there are credible allegations made, then of course they should be looked at.
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Mr Sunak said it would not be right for him to comment on police matters and stressed that the police have ‘operational independence’ from politicians.
The Yard, which said that it had not launched an investigation, was last night accused by the chief executive of Republic of protecting Andrew. Graham Smith said: ‘I am writing to the Commissioner Mark Rowley to raise these questions and ask why the Met appears to be protecting the royals from potential prosecution.’
As the furore around the late Queen’s son, who is still eighth in line to the throne and a counsellor of state with legal powers to step in for the King, showed no sign of abating, further documents were released in the US.
One claimed Andrew ‘has knowledge of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual trafficking conduction and interaction with under age minors, including Virginia Giuffre’ – his principal accuser.
In the documents Ms Giuffre – known at the time as Virginia Roberts – also makes clear that she plans to subpoena Buckingham Palace to obtain records of the prince’s domestic and international travels between 1999 and 2002 in order to prove her case.
This included travel between New York City and the Caribbean, where Epstein had homes and Ms Giuffre alleges she was forced to have sex with Andrew.
She also claims she was trafficked to the London home of the billionaire financier’s girlfriend, Maxwell, and forced to sleep with the prince there.
A transcript of Maxwell’s legal deposition last night heaped fresh embarrassment on the duke as the disgraced socialite’s excruciating testimony was laid bare.
Jeffrey Epstein pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 2000s
Maxwell says she had known the prince for ‘a very long time’ but denies that she introduced him to paedophile Epstein.
She is also asked: ‘Did you ever introduce Prince Andrew to any girls under the age of 18 who were not friends of your children?’
She also denies this. Maxwell maintains that she has ‘no recollection’ of Andrew being at her London home at the same time as Ms Giuffre – but confirms Andrew is seen in a photograph apparently of the three of them together. Maxwell is also quizzed over allegations the duke used a Spitting Image puppet to grope Ms Giuffre, while he placed his hands on another woman’s breasts.
As of last night Andrew had still not responded to the latest revelations, but his daughter, Princess Beatrice, was seen driving into Royal Lodge, which he shares with his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.
The Mail revealed yesterday that the King intends to continue his efforts to force his brother to give up the ten-bedroom mansion in favour of a more modest property on the Windsor estate.
A source told the paper that the release of the court documents ‘crystallised’ the fact that there was ‘no way back’ for Charles’s younger brother.
Buckingham Palace say they no longer speak for the duke because he is not a working member of the Royal Family, having been stripped of his public duties and barred from using his HRH title in the wake of a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview.
Dai Davies, a former head of royalty protection and retired chief superintendent, last night called on Scotland Yard to interview Andrew under caution. He said: ‘He should be interviewed by officers and if there is any evidence of a crime, interviewed under caution. It is an obscene failure by the Metropolitan Police not to instigate an investigation.’
The Yard has looked at the allegations made against Andrew at least twice.
In 2021, one of its most senior officers, Commander Alexis Boon, was tasked with reviewing claims made by Ms Giuffre in her civil lawsuit. Detectives are understood to have contacted her directly but decided to take no further action.
In 2016 the Met concluded that it was not the appropriate authority to investigate human trafficking allegations relating to Andrew because any probe ‘would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK’.
A spokesman said yesterday: ‘We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it. No investigation has been launched.’
Maxwell was jailed for 20 years in July 2020 for her part in helping Epstein to abuse dozens of women and girls.
She has launched an appeal, scheduled to be heard in November next year.
The newly-released documents form part of a 2015 case brought against Maxwell by Ms Giuffre which can now be made public. They contain well-known names including that of late physicist Stephen Hawking.