Another royal under renewed scrutiny is Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. The Metropolitan Police are now investigating allegations that he directed a close protection officer to food intelligence on Virginia Giuffre. This question comes in the wake of new details about his history of ties to confirmed sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Giuffre claims he trafficked her into sexual intercourse when she was merely 17 years of age.
In a notable 2019 Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew asserted that he had severed all ties with Epstein after a controversial photo surfaced of them together in New York in December 2010. Newly revealed emails from February 2011 challenge his story, showing that he was still in touch with Epstein. One email purportedly contains a message from Prince Andrew to Epstein that reads, “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!”
The specific focus of this latest investigation is to provide further context and information about Prince Andrew’s relationship with Giuffre. Witness statements indicated that he instructed his close protection officer to provide Giuffre’s date of birth. He went on to publicly share her confidential nine-digit social security number. Virginia Giuffre has made horrific allegations against Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She says they trafficked her and coerced her into sex with Prince Andrew on at least three occasions.
Those leaked emails have triggered an unprecedented state of panic among government insiders. As one UK minister put it, the unauthorized sharing of such sensitive information was “deeply concerning.” Regardless, the allegations have led to calls for a deeper investigation. Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, said the royal family needed to decide for themselves how to respond to the furore.
“The royal family will have to make its own decisions about what other steps can be taken.” – Ed Miliband
Additionally, Miliband noted the royal family’s reluctance to occupy parliamentary time with these matters, emphasizing the pressing issues currently facing Parliament.
Against this backdrop, the prince’s fortunes have turned upside down in the royal family. An oddly convenient – for some – victim of circumstance. He renounced his royal titles, such as Duke of York. This move came on the heels of his loss of his HRH title and his ending as a working royal. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has decided to return to her maiden name. She has since ceased to use her title as Duchess of York. Despite all this, Prince Andrew still holds on to his dukedom, which would take an act of Parliament to remove.
The inquiry into Prince Andrew’s actions comes at a time when public sentiment is increasingly critical of the royal family’s handling of past scandals. Virginia Giuffre has been vocal about her experiences, stating that Prince Andrew “believed having sex with me was his birthright.” This declaration emphasizes the seriousness of what he is accused of.
As the investigation continues, it’s contributing to a cloud of confusion. The full impact on Prince Andrew, and on the royal family as a whole, remains uncertain. The Metropolitan Police are currently investigating heavy allegations against him. They are too investigating the context of his communication with Epstein, as well as Giuffre.