Prince Andrew latest: Andrew ‘in advanced talks’ to leave Royal Lodge

The Met Police have confirmed they are “actively looking” into fresh allegations that Andrew tried to use his police bodyguard to smear his accuser, Amy-Clare Martin writes.

The Mail on Sunday claims to have seen leaked emails from 2011 in which Andrew said he had handed over Giuffre’s confidential social security number (SSN) and date of birth to his taxpayer-funded Met Police protection officer, apparently in a bid to dig up dirt on her.

Andrew reportedly wrote in an email to Ed Perkins, Queen Elizabeth’s deputy press secretary: “It would also seem she has a criminal record in the [United] States. I have given her DoB [date of birth] and social security number for investigation with XXX, the on duty ppo [personal protection officer].”

The Met’s former head of royal protection, Dai Davies, has urged the force to question the royal under caution if there is evidence that he abetted a police officer to commit the criminal offence of misconduct in public office.

“It is time for Scotland Yard to launch a full criminal investigation into Prince Andrew,” he told the Mail.

“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.”

Prince Andrew has lived at the 30-room Royal Lodge mansion in Windsor Great Park for more than 20 years.

A copy of the leasehold agreement, shared by the Crown Estate shows Andrew signed a 75-year lease on the property in 2003.

It reveals he paid £1 million for the lease and that since then he has paid “one peppercorn” of rent “if demanded” per year.

He was also required to pay a further £7.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005, according to a report by the National Audit Office.

The agreement also contains a clause which states the Crown Estate would have to pay Andrew around £558,000 if he gave up the lease.

The Public Accounts Committee is to write to the Crown Estate and the Treasury to raise “a number of questions” about Andrew’s lease on the property.

Prince Andrew is reportedly in discussions about leaving Royal Lodge voluntarily following the furore over the “peppercorn” rent for his 30-room mansion.

Obstacles to reaching a settlement are reportedly where Andrew, eighth in line to the throne, will live and what financial recompense he will receive for the funds he spent renovating the home.

There are likely properties on the King’s private Balmoral estate in Scotland and his Sandringham estate in Norfolk that could house Andrew but whether he will accept a smaller home far from his supportive daughters remains to be seen.

Four out of five Britons want Prince Andrew to be formally stripped of his dukedom, a YouGov poll has suggested.

The survey showed that 63% of nearly 6,700 adults questioned were “strongly” in favour of formal removal of the dukedom and 17% “somewhat” supported the idea, while 6% were opposed to it – 4% somewhat and 2% strongly – and 14% did not know.

Downing Street has said MPs will not be given time in the House of Commons to discuss Andrew’s conduct because the royal family wants Parliament to focus on “important issues”.

Number 10 said it would not allocate time for a debate in the chamber although MPs could still scrutinise the situation in committees.

Ms Wallace said Andrew could still come forward about what he knew about the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and help victims of sexual abuse.

“He still denies what is in this book, we should say. But it’s not too late,” she said.

“He could continue to leave aside the things he’s accused of with Virginia. He could still come forward. He was in those houses, he was on the island, he was in the private jet numerous times.

“He could still come forward and say to the authorities, I want to validate these women’s experience.”

The prince, who strenuously denies the allegations from Ms Giuffre, has been hit by fresh criticism focused on his property, with some MPs eager to debate the issue in Parliament.