The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating fresh allegations concerning Prince Andrew, following the emergence of a damning email implying that the former duke tried to tarnish the reputation of his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.
Prince Andrew has consistently refuted claims of engaging in sexual activities with Jeffrey Epstein’s accuser, Virginia, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 17. Despite his denials, his association with convicted sex offender Epstein has continued to overshadow his position in the Royal Family.
Having withdrawn from public duties five years ago, the 65-year-old has now voluntarily renounced the use of his titles and honors, with the approval of his elder brother, King Charles III. In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew announced his decision to relinquish his titles “to prioritize my obligations to my family and the nation.”
Recent revelations of alleged misconduct have surfaced, making it challenging for the Royal Family to ignore the ongoing issues surrounding Prince Andrew.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Prince Andrew reportedly instructed his taxpayer-funded Met bodyguard to investigate Virginia by providing her personal information, including her birthdate and social security number, in an attempt to gather negative information. However, there is no evidence that the officer complied with this request.
The Mail on Sunday further disclosed that in February 2011, just before the publication of a controversial photo showing Prince Andrew with Virginia at Ghislaine Maxwell’s residence, he sent an email to Ed Perkins, the press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, suggesting Virginia had a criminal record in the U.S.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed they are actively examining the allegations. Virginia’s family, who confirmed she had no criminal record, condemned the attempts to discredit survivors and have called for an investigation into how Prince Andrew obtained her private information.
Victoria Derbyshire interrupted Sunday’s program with Laura Kuenssberg to announce the Metropolitan Police’s decision to investigate Prince Andrew’s alleged involvement in seeking derogatory information on Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual misconduct when she was a minor.
Responding to this development, journalist Emily Maitlis, whose pivotal BBC Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew in 2019 significantly impacted his reputation, expressed approval of the police inquiry.