Police ‘making progress’ in probe into claims Andrew shared reports with Epstein

Thames Valley Police have held discussions with specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service about allegations that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential reports from his role as the UK’s trade envoy with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The force said: “While we cannot provide timescales over when a decision as to whether a criminal investigation will be opened, we can assure you that Thames Valley Police is making progress as quickly as possible.”

Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said they were leading the assessment of allegations relating to misconduct in public office, which specifically related to documents within the United States Department of Justice’s Epstein files.

“As part of this assessment, we have engaged in discussions with specialist crown prosecutors from the CPS,” Mr Wright said.

“We will provide updates as and when they are available, but at this stage it would be inappropriate to discuss further specifics of this work.

“During an assessment phase, information is evaluated to determine whether a criminal offence is suspected and whether a full investigation is required. Allegations of misconduct in public office involve particular complexities, and therefore an assessment must be conducted carefully and thoroughly.”

Earlier on Wednesday Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson told journalists they were “in close contact” with both the Metropolitan and Thames Valley police, but have not been asked for formal advice yet.

“In complex and sensitive cases, the CPS and the police do work together,” he said.

“And I’m sure in respect of the investigation that has been announced, we will do so.”

Emails released by the US department of justice earlier this month appear to show the former duke sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore.

Files released by US authorities also include claims a woman was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew in 2010.

Separately, the Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into Lord Peter Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office.

The inquiry is linked to allegations that Lord Mandelson sent market-sensitive information to the paedophile financier Epstein while he was business secretary during the financial crisis.

Mr Parkinson said he was confident the CPS could advise police over the offence of misconduct in public office, which is a common law crime that is not considered to be well-defined.

He said: “The issue when you’re advising on criminal cases, it’s very rarely about what the law is, it’s about the application of the law in the context.

“I’m confident we would be able to give advice.”

The development is the latest bombshell in the relentless scandal surrounding the former duke and his links to paedophile Epstein.

On Monday, Buckingham Palace said it would “stand ready to support” the police if approached over the claims.

A spokesman added that the King had made clear his “profound concern” at allegations over his brother’s conduct.

Andrew is effectively no longer a royal, becoming a commoner after he was stripped by the monarch of his right to be a prince and his dukedom late last year over his association with Epstein.

He remains in the line of succession, being eighth in line to the throne, having gradually moved down after being born second in line.

Much of the work of the royal family in recent weeks has been overshadowed by the Epstein scandal, despite the King’s attempts to draw a line under the matter when he banished Andrew and removed his titles.

The fresh trove of documents released by the US Department of Justice has sparked a string of allegations against Andrew.

They include claims that a second woman was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew, and also that the former prince and Epstein asked an exotic dancer for a threesome in the latter’s Florida home.

The latest allegation is that Andrew shared confidential reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore in his role as the UK’s trade envoy.

One email, dated November 2010, was forwarded by Andrew five minutes after being sent by his then-special adviser Amir Patel.

Another, on Christmas Eve 2010, sent Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Graham Smith, chief executive of anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, said he had reported the allegations to police.

Andrew has never been questioned by police over claims by Virginia Giuffre.

Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, alleged that she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew, including when she was 17, and also in London after she was trafficked by Epstein, and at an orgy on Epstein’s private Caribbean island.

The former duke vehemently denied the claims.

The Met previously said it was made aware in 2015 of allegations around non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation including to central London in 2001.

But it concluded in 2016 that because the investigation would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK, the Met was not the appropriate authority to conduct the inquiries so the matter would not proceed to a full criminal investigation.

The decision was reviewed in August 2019, but in November that year the Met confirmed it would remain unchanged.

In December, the Met decided not to launch a criminal investigation into reports that Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded bodyguard to dig up dirt on Ms Giuffre.

Her family have said they are “deeply disappointed” by the force’s decision to drop the investigation “without explanation”.