Palace says King Charles will ‘support’ police probe into ex-Prince Andrew | Police News
British Police Investigate Former Prince Andrew Over Allegations of Confidential Reports to Epstein
British police are currently assessing a complaint regarding former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who is alleged to have sent confidential trade reports to convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement on Monday affirming that King Charles III will “support” UK police in their examination of these reports. This inquiry follows revelations that Andrew allegedly sent trade reports to Epstein in 2010 while serving as Britain’s envoy for international trade.
Thames Valley Police, which oversees areas in western London, including Windsor where the ex-royal previously lived, initiated the inquiry after a complaint from anti-monarchy campaigner Graham Smith. According to the police, they are evaluating the information in accordance with established procedures.
In its statement, Buckingham Palace emphasized the King’s concern over the ongoing allegations related to Andrew’s conduct. The palace stated, “While the specific claims in question are for Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police, we stand ready to support them as you would expect.”
The inquiry comes in light of recent documents released by the U.S. Justice Department, shedding new light on Andrew’s connections with Epstein. Among these are emails indicating that Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded copies of a 2010 Southeast Asia tour report to Epstein shortly after returning to Britain. The correspondence includes details of his itinerary that encompassed cities such as Hanoi, Saigon, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong.
Smith, who leads the anti-monarchy group Republic, has reported Mountbatten-Windsor for alleged abuse of public office and potential violations of the Official Secrets Act, compounded by the mounting scrutiny he has faced for his past relationship with Epstein. The former prince, now 65, has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has not commented on the latest allegations following the recent release of documents.
Al Jazeera’s Milena Veselinovic further reports that there are claims regarding a confidential memo related to investment in Helmand province, Afghanistan, funded by the UK taxpayer.
The royal family is similarly striving to distance itself from this scandal. On Monday, Prince William and Princess Catherine expressed their concern over the ongoing revelations, with a spokesperson stating their thoughts remain focused on the victims of Epstein’s actions.
During a visit to Lancashire, King Charles faced public scrutiny as one attendee in the crowd shouted, “How long have you known about Andrew?” This reflects the precarious position the royal family finds itself in amidst these developments.
In a significant move, King Charles recently forced Mountbatten-Windsor to vacate his long-time residence at Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle. Although initially set for later this year, the transition has now accelerated. The former royal is currently residing at Wood Farm Cottage on the king’s Sandringham Estate and is expected to relocate to a more permanent residence once renovations are complete.
