Met Police Decision Sparks Outrage Over Prince Andrew Allegations
The family of Virginia Giuffre has expressed profound disappointment following the Metropolitan Police’s decision not to pursue an investigation into claims that Prince Andrew attempted to discredit her. The allegations suggest the disgraced royal may have instructed a bodyguard to “dig up dirt” on Ms. Giuffre, potentially as part of a smear campaign.
The core of these allegations, first reported in October, centres on a claim that Prince Andrew provided Ms. Giuffre’s personal details – specifically her social security number and date of birth – to a taxpayer-funded close protection officer in 2011. He is alleged to have then tasked this officer with finding compromising information about her.
However, the Metropolitan Police’s chief specialist crime commander stated that the force had not received sufficient evidence to warrant opening a formal inquiry. In a statement, the commander outlined the Met’s position:
“Following recent reporting suggesting that Mr Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked his Met Police close protection officer to carry out checks on Ms Giuffre in 2011, the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) has carried out a further assessment. This assessment has not revealed any additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct. The Met remains committed to thoroughly assessing any new information that could assist in this matter. 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. As with any other matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention, including in any information resulting from the release of material in the US, we will assess it.”
The family of Ms. Giuffre voiced their strong feelings of disappointment, stating they were not forewarned of the announcement and felt the investigation was dropped “without explanation.” They revealed a recent exchange with a detective from the Metropolitan Police on Friday, December 12th, where they were asked if they had any evidence to present, a query they had not yet responded to.
Their statement highlighted the timing of this decision in relation to the impending release of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case, facilitated by the Epstein Transparency Act in the United States. The family expressed surprise that the Metropolitan Police did not wait to review any potential evidence that might emerge from these US releases.
“While we have hailed the UK’s overall handling of the case of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor previously, today we feel justice has not been served,” the family stated. “We continue to challenge the system that protects abusers, especially as more evidence comes to light that can hold people accountable. Our sister Virginia, and all survivors, are owed this much.”
Calls for Inquiry Amid “Two-Tier Justice” Claims
The decision has also drawn criticism from the campaign group Republic, which has called for a thorough inquiry into the Metropolitan Police’s relationship with the Royal Family. Graham Smith, the chief executive of Republic, characterised the decision as “the latest in a long line of royal accusations the police have refused to investigate.”
Smith articulated a view of a “two-tier justice” system in the UK, suggesting that individuals with royal connections can evade serious consequences. He argued that the police often “do the bare minimum to investigate accusations” against royals, implying that similar evidence would lead to severe repercussions for ordinary citizens.
Prince Andrew’s association with the late Jeffrey Epstein has been a persistent source of public scrutiny. In recent months, King Charles III officially stripped his brother of his HRH style and prince title. The former Duke of York has for years faced allegations of sexually assaulting Ms. Giuffre, who was a teenager at the time, asserting she was trafficked by Epstein. Prince Andrew has consistently denied these accusations. He settled a civil sexual assault claim with Ms. Giuffre in 2022, reportedly paying millions of pounds.
Prince Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 following a widely criticised interview on the BBC’s Newsnight programme. However, renewed focus on his past has emerged with the posthumous publication of Ms. Giuffre’s memoirs and the US government’s release of documents pertaining to Epstein’s estate.
Latest Epstein Documents Surface
On Friday, a photograph featuring Prince Andrew was among the latest batch of images released from Epstein’s estate. Nearly 100 pictures were shared by Democrats on the US House Oversight Committee, separate from the Department of Justice’s case files. Among the initial nineteen photos were images of Prince Andrew alongside Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson pictured on a beach with Epstein and another unidentified man.
American politicians have also voiced criticism regarding Prince Andrew’s perceived silence, particularly after he missed a deadline to respond to a request for an interview concerning his relationship with Epstein.
