Scotland Yard won’t rule out investigation into sex abuse charges against Prince Andrew as new documents put relationship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein back in the spotlight

Scotland Yard said tonight that it would not rule out sexual abuse charges against Prince Andrew.

As the family gathered around the King’s brother at his Windsor mansion, Met chiefs said detectives would assess any “new and relevant” information.

Anti-monarchy group Republic reported Andrew to police on Thursday after recently released legal documents put his relationship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein back in the spotlight.

The court filings included claims that the prince knew about Epstein’s sex trafficking, committed “acts of sexual abuse” and participated in an “underage orgy.” He has strongly and repeatedly denied all allegations against him.

But pressure on the Yard to act increased after both Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak were brought to the scene over the claims. Sir Keir, the former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, told LBC Radio that “credible” allegations must be investigated, no matter who they relate to.

Prince Andrew was last seen publicly at Sandringham on Christmas Day 2023

Virginia Giuffre (center) photographed with Prince Andrew (left) and Ghislaine Maxwell at his London mews house in early 2001

The Labor leader added: ‘I’ve seen the headlines about this, not the details, but honestly, whoever it is, where there have been credible allegations made then of course that needs to be looked into.

Mr Sunak said it would not be right for him to comment on police matters and stressed that the police are ‘operationally independent’ of politicians.

The Yard, which said it had not launched an investigation, was last night accused by Republic’s CEO of trying to protect Andrew. Graham Smith said: ‘I am writing to Commissioner Mark Rowley to ask these questions and ask why the Met appears to be protecting the royals from possible prosecution.’

As the furor surrounding the late queen’s son, who remains eighth in line to the throne and a state advisor with legal powers to step in for the king, showed no signs of abating, further documents were released in the USA

One alleged that Andrew “has knowledge of the sex trafficking of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein and interactions with underage minors, including Virginia Giuffre” – his primary accuser.

In the documents, Ms Giuffre – known at the time as Virginia Roberts – also makes clear that she plans to subpoena Buckingham Palace to obtain records of the prince’s domestic and international travels between 1999 and 2002 to prove her case.

This included travel between New York City and the Caribbean, where Epstein had homes and Ms Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with Andrew.

She also claims she was trafficked to the London home of the billionaire financier Maxwell’s girlfriend and forced to sleep with the prince.

A transcript of Maxwell’s legal deposition last night brought fresh embarrassment to the Duke as the disgraced socialite’s excruciating testimony came to light.

Jeffrey Epstein pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 2000s

Maxwell says she has known the prince for a ‘very long time’, but denies that she brought him into contact with pedophile Epstein.

She is also asked: “Have you ever introduced Prince Andrew to girls under 18 who were not friends of your children?”

She also denies this. Maxwell claims she has ‘no memory’ of Andrew being in her London home at the same time as Ms Giuffre – but confirms that Andrew is apparently seen in a photo of the three of them together. Maxwell is also being questioned about allegations that the Duke used a Spitting Image doll to grope Ms Giuffre while placing his hands on another woman’s breasts.

Andrew had still not commented on the latest revelations last night, but his daughter, Princess Beatrice, was spotted driving into the Royal Lodge, which he shares with his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.

The Mail revealed yesterday that the king plans to continue his efforts to force his brother to give up the 10-bedroom mansion in favor of a more modest property on the Windsor estate.

A source told the newspaper that the release of the court documents “crystallized” the fact that there was “no way back” for Charles’ younger brother.

Buckingham Palace says they are no longer speaking on behalf of the Duke because he is not a working member of the Royal Family, having been stripped of his public duties and banned from using his title as HRH following a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview.

Dai Davies, former head of Royalty Protection and retired chief inspector, last night called on Scotland Yard to interview Andrew under caution. He said: “He should be interviewed by officers and if there is any evidence of wrongdoing he should be interviewed with caution. It is an obscene failure by the Metropolitan Police not to investigate.”

The Yard has reviewed the allegations against Andrew at least twice.

In 2021, one of the highest-ranking officers, Commander Alexis Boon, was tasked with reviewing Ms. Giuffre’s claims in her civil lawsuit. Detectives reportedly contacted her directly but decided not to take any further action.

In 2016, the Met concluded that it was not the appropriate authority to investigate allegations of human trafficking relating to Andrew because any investigation would be ‘largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK’.

A spokesperson said yesterday: ‘We are aware of the release of court documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. As with any matter, if new and relevant information is brought to our attention, we will review it. No investigation has been initiated.”

Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison in July 2020 for her part in helping Epstein abuse dozens of women and girls.

She has lodged an appeal, which will be heard in November next year.

The newly released documents are part of a 2015 case Ms. Giuffre filed against Maxwell that can now be made public. They include famous names, including the late physicist Stephen Hawking.