New Epstein files spark calls for Met to reopen Andrew investigation | Royal | News

The damaging revelations from the newly released Epstein files have sparked calls for the Metropolitan Police to reopen its investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Photographs of the former Duke of York on all fours over an unidentified woman, as well as emails to the convicted paedophile long after he claimed to have dropped all contact, have emerged following the release of three million documents by the US Department of Justice on Friday (January 30). Being named or pictured in these documents does not imply any wrongdoing.

Since the release, an anonymous woman has also come forward and alleged she was sent by Jeffrey Epstein to Britain to have sex with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor at a royal residence. Now, Gloria Allred, a lawyer who has represented 27 of Epstein’s victims, has called on the Met Police to reopen its investigation into Mr Mountbatten-Windsor. “The Metropolitan Police should reopen their investigation of Andrew,” Ms Allred told the Mail on Sunday. “In addition, Andrew should volunteer to speak to Congress, even though he has denied that he has committed any crime.

“He should do this to help the survivors learn what he observed and what was going on at the crime scene.

“The crime scene was every residence of Jeffrey Epstein, and Andrew stayed with Epstein at a number of his homes.”

Last year, the Met said it was investigating allegations that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had asked a personal protection officer to dig up information on the late Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that she was forced to have sex with him when she was 17 years old. However, the force later decided not to pursue the case and was criticised by Ms Giuffre’s family, who said justice had “not been served”. This came after the Met previously closed an investigation in 2021, following a review of several documents related to Ms Giuffre.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor – who has consistently denied the allegations – reached an out-of-court financial settlement with Ms Giuffre in February 2022 for an undisclosed sum.

However, on Saturday (January 31), Bradley Evans, a US lawyer who has represented more than 200 Epstein victims, said that a second woman was sent by Epstein to the Royal Lodge in 2010 for sex with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor. The woman, who is not British and was said to be in her 20s at the time, said she was later given a tour of Buckingham Palace and tea. It is the first time an Epstein victim has claimed a sexual encounter took place in a royal residence.

Several senior politicians, led by Sir Keir Starmer, have said that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor should testify to the US Congress out of a duty to the victims. The PM said the victims “have to be the first priority” and that “anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do that”.

The US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform previously sent a letter to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor on November 6 last year, signed by 16 members, requesting a transcribed interview regarding his connections to Epstein. The committee requested his response by November 20 due to the “urgency and gravity” of the investigation. However, it is understood that he did not respond by the deadline. The request came shortly after he was stripped of his HRH style and Prince title by King Charles.