Buckingham Palace will have the new allegations made against Prince Andrew fully investigated following the relinquishment of his royal titles.
After several outlets reported on Sunday, October 19, that Andrew, 65, is being investigated for allegedly asking his taxpayer-funded security detail to uncover information about late accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2011, just hours before the release of a photo showing the royal alongside a then-underage Giuffre, a palace source told People on Monday, October 20, that all new claims against the prince should be “examined in the appropriate way.” The insider noted that Buckingham Palace is treating the allegations with “very great concern should be examined in the appropriate ways to the fullest extent.”
Outlets reported on Sunday that there were a series of allegedly leaked email exchanges that showed Andrew providing a member of his security team with Giuffre’s social security number and date of birth in hopes of uncovering personal information about her. (Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year.)
The Guardian also reported Sunday that it does not appear the officer ever followed through with the request. (Us Weekly reached out to Buckingham Palace at the time.)
Andrew announced on Friday, October 17, that he was giving up his titles, which include the Duke of York and the Order of the Garter membership in addition to his military and royal patronages. The decision occurred due to Andrew’s past connection to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, which continues to make headlines.
“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,” Andrew said in a statement obtained by Us Weekly. “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.”
He continued, “With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
Andrew was accused of sexual assault by the late Giuffre in 2019. Giuffre claimed she and Andrew crossed paths on one of Epstein’s properties when she was 17 years old. She alleged that they met for a sexual encounter set up by Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew has vehemently denied having a connection with Giuffre. He also stated in a 2019 interview with BBC’s Newsnight that he had “no recollection of ever meeting” Giuffre.
That same year, Epstein was arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking minors in Florida and New York. He died by suicide at age 66 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York following his arrest. Maxwell was found guilty on child sex trafficking charges in 2021 and is currently behind bars at the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas.
In November 2019, Andrew announced that he would be stepping back from his public duties.
Prince Andrew allegedly brought up his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, when meeting late accuser Virginia Giuffre for the first time. The Times published an excerpt from Giuffre’s memoir, Nobody’s Girl — set to be released posthumously on Tuesday, October 21 — that details the first time she allegedly crossed paths with Andrew in […]
“It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstance relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organizations and charities that I am proud to support,” he wrote in a statement. “Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.”
Andrew permanently resigned from all public roles with the royal family in May 2020.
Two years later, Giuffre sued Andrew for sexual abuse. The lawsuit was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
In April of this year, Giuffre died by suicide. She was 41. Prior to her death, she was working on her memoir, Nobody’s Girl, which will be released posthumously on Tuesday, October 21. The book will share more details about her and Andrew’s alleged encounter.
