By Gloria Ogbonna
LONDON (AP) — British police have announced that they found no evidence to support claims that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, asked one of his police bodyguards to investigate or discredit Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre.
The Metropolitan Police said on Saturday that it would not be opening a criminal investigation after reviewing media allegations dating back to 2011.
Those reports suggested that Andrew had instructed a taxpayer-funded police protection officer to look into Giuffre’s background, allegedly in an effort to undermine her credibility following her accusations against him.
The controversy resurfaced in October when the Met confirmed it was assessing claims published by the Mail on Sunday. The newspaper alleged that Andrew had passed Giuffre’s personal details including her date of birth and Social Security number to his police bodyguard, asking him to find out whether she had a criminal record.
At the time, the reports raised renewed questions about the former prince’s conduct and the use of publicly funded security resources.
However, in a statement released Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said its assessment “has not revealed any additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct.” As a result, the force said it would not pursue the matter further or launch a formal investigation.
“The Met remains committed to thoroughly assessing any new information that could assist in this matter,” said Central Specialist Crime Commander Ella Marriott.
“To date, we have not received any additional evidence that would support reopening the investigation. In the absence of any further information, we will be taking no further action.”
Marriott also acknowledged the broader human impact of the case, adding that police thoughts remain with Giuffre’s family and friends following her death earlier this year.
Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, was one of the most prominent accusers of the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She alleged that as a teenager in the early 2000s, she was trafficked by Epstein and sexually abused by several powerful men, including Andrew. Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The case has continued to cast a long shadow over the British royal family. Last month, King Charles III formally stripped his younger brother of his remaining royal title following renewed public scrutiny of his association with Epstein and the release of Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, which brought her claims back into the spotlight.
Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022 after she filed a civil lawsuit against him in New York. While he did not admit to any wrongdoing, he acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering and recognized her as a victim of sex trafficking.
With police now confirming that no further action will be taken on the alleged smear attempt, the Met said the matter remains closed unless new, credible evidence emerges.
Source Breitbrat
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