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By Jack Royston
Chief Royal Correspondent
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London's Metropolitan Police have confirmed the are "actively looking into" reports Prince Andrew asked his protection officer to dig up dirt on his Jeffrey Epstein accuser, Virginia Giuffre.
An email published Sunday suggested Andrew gave Giuffre's date of birth and social security number to an on duty police officer from the Met's SO14 Royalty Protection Group in 2011, a day before publication in the press of a now infamous photo of Andrew with his arm around her waist.
The Mail on Sunday reported Andrew sent the message to Ed Perkins, Queen Elizabeth II's deputy press secretary, stating: "It would also seem she has a criminal record in the States. I have given her DoB [date of birth] and social security number for investigation with XXX, the on duty ppo [personal protection officer]."
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A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said in a statement to Newsweek: "We are aware of media reporting and are actively looking into the claims made."
There is nothing to suggest the officer complied with the request. Giuffre's family reportedly say she did not have a criminal record. She took her own life in April
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Why It Matters
Giuffre accused Epstein of harrowing sexual abuse and trafficking.
She also filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew saying she was trafficked by Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell to London, New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands to have sex with Andrew and feared death if she refused. The suit accused Andrew of rape but he denied the allegations while settling out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Giuffre reported her allegations to the Metropolitan Police and the case was reviewed multiple times but on each occasion no further action was brought on the basis that the case would revolve around relationships outside the U.K.
If police did now formally investigate Andrew, and potentially prosecute him, on this allegation alone it would be interpreted as vindication for Giuffre, though it is unlikely it would lead to any ruling on whether her sexual assault allegations are true.
What to Know
The emergence of the email came after a dramatic few days in which Andrew agreed to stop using many of his titles, including Duke of York, stating the situation had become a distraction from the monarchy's work.
A statement from Andrew, released by Buckingham Palace, read: "In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.
"I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.
"With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."
However, the revelations have not stopped coming as news organization have begun publishing snippets from Giuffre's book, Nobody's Girl, due to be released on Tuesday.
If a criminal prosecution against Andrew were to go ahead it would be particularly difficult for the palace because the allegation relates to his time as a working royal.
Not only that, but he also disclosed his request to a palace press officer—suggesting his conduct was known about within the monarchy.
There is currently nothing to suggest the police officer did, in fact, conduct any searches or investigations based on the information Andrew provided.
What People Are Saying
The BBC published a passage from Nobody's Girl in which Giuffre said: "In my years with them [Epstein and Maxwell], they lent me out to scores of wealthy, powerful people.
"I was habitually used and humiliated—and in some instances, choked, beaten, and bloodied. I believed that I might die a sex slave."
Dai Davies, a former head of Royalty Protection at the Metropolitan Police, told the Mail: "It is time for Scotland Yard to launch a full criminal investigation into Prince Andrew.
"Asking a police officer to investigate an alleged victim is outside of their duties, whether that is calling the FBI, your mates in the US, or searching out themselves to find out whether someone has a criminal offence. That is, in my view, a criminal offence.
"Asking a public servant, that includes anyone from the Palace or police, to commit those inquiries is inciting them, aiding and abetting them to commit misconduct in public office. It should be investigated and he should be interviewed under caution.
"This is a serious matter. Police protection officers are not there to investigate, they are there to protect. The question is was this request carried out by anyone and if so, was there any attempt to pervert the course of justice?
"There are also questions for the chain of command – who knew that he had made this request and why was it not reported?"
Attorney Gloria Allred, founding partner at Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, who represented some of Epstein's victims, reacted to Andrew's statement on Sky News: "It's not everything in terms of a measure of justice. It's some consequence. It's very disturbing that the reason given is that somehow it's a distraction.
"The idea that Jeffrey Epstein for example victimized children, molested children, sex trafficked children and Virginia Giuffre's allegations are just a distraction that will continue, I think, is an insult, frankly, to victims. Because what it's saying is that it's continued bad PR for the monarchy. Well, what about the victims?"
What Happens Next
The wording of the Met's statement suggests they are still at a preliminary stage in their inquiries during which they will decide whether to launch a full investigation.
If they do, then they will collect evidence to present to the Crown Prosecution Service to determine whether or not to charge a suspect. That could potentially include Andrew or the police protection officer or both.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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