LONDON (AP) – British police announced on Saturday that they have found no evidence to substantiate claims that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, requested one of his bodyguards to investigate Virginia Giuffre, a known victim of Jeffrey Epstein.
The Metropolitan Police in London had previously indicated in October that they were examining reports, which suggested that Andrew attempted to gather information on Giuffre in 2011 with the intention of discrediting her. The Mail on Sunday reported that the prince provided his taxpayer-funded bodyguard with Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number in an effort to uncover whether she had a criminal record.
Following their assessment, the police stated that their investigation had revealed “no additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct,” leading them to decide against opening a formal criminal inquiry. In a statement, Police Central Specialist Crime Commander Ella Marriott emphasized the Met's commitment to exploring any new information that may arise. However, she noted that, as of now, there was no further information to warrant reopening the investigation, and thus, no further action would be taken.
Marriott expressed condolences to Giuffre's family and friends, stating, “Our thoughts will always be with Ms. Giuffre’s family and friends following her death.” Giuffre’s family, however, expressed their dismay at the police's decision, asserting that “justice has not been served.”
Virginia Giuffre, who tragically took her own life in April, had accused Andrew of involvement in Epstein's sex trafficking operations when she was a teenager in the early 2000s. Her allegations included being exploited by Andrew and other powerful figures associated with Epstein.
In light of recent developments and renewed scrutiny over Andrew's past ties with Epstein, King Charles III officially revoked his younger brother’s royal title last month. This action came after more details regarding Andrew's relationship with Epstein surfaced, compounded by Giuffre's posthumous memoir that refocused public attention on her serious allegations.
In 2022, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre after she filed a civil lawsuit against him in New York. Although he maintained that he did not admit any wrongdoing, he acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking.
