Prince Andrew of Britain reportedly requested the police in 2011 to uncover personal details about Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually assaulting her as a teenager. This revelation comes shortly after Prince Andrew renounced his Duke of York title. The Metropolitan Police in London confirmed that they are actively investigating the claims made in the Mail on Sunday’s report, while Buckingham Palace did not immediately comment on the matter.
Following years of criticism regarding his conduct and associations with the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles, announced on Friday that he would no longer use his royal title. He expressed that the accusations against him, which he has consistently refuted, were diverting attention from the responsibilities of the monarchy.
Despite Prince Andrew’s decision, the recent report indicates that the scandal continues to unfold. In 2011, Prince Andrew stepped down from his role as a UK trade ambassador, eventually relinquishing all royal duties in 2019. Subsequently, in 2022, he was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages amidst allegations of sexual misconduct.
In the same year, Prince Andrew settled a lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, who tragically passed away in April, alleging that he had sexually abused her during her teenage years. Prince Andrew has consistently denied these allegations, which have resurfaced with the publication of Giuffre’s memoir.
The Mail on Sunday report detailed that Prince Andrew had instructed one of his personal protection officers to gather information about his accuser, referencing an email he sent to Queen Elizabeth’s deputy press secretary. The email reportedly mentioned that Prince Andrew provided Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number, suspecting she had a criminal record in the US. However, Giuffre’s family confirmed to the newspaper that she had no criminal record. The Mail on Sunday clarified that there is no indication the officer acted on Prince Andrew’s request. The Metropolitan Police stated they are actively investigating the allegations following the media reports.
British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband expressed deep concern over the new allegations in an interview with the BBC.
The situation continues to evolve, and authorities are actively addressing the claims made.