Metropolitan Police Probing Claims That Prince Andrew Tried to Access Virginia Giuffre’s Private Data
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are “actively looking into” reports that Prince Andrew attempted to obtain personal information about his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, through his official police protection unit. The allegations add a fresh layer of controversy to the Duke’s already troubled public image, as he faces renewed scrutiny over his past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“We are aware of media reporting and are actively looking into the claims made,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said on Sunday.
The statement came after reports in British newspapers alleged that the prince, who recently gave up his remaining royal titles, sought to use police resources to gather confidential information about Ms. Giuffre shortly before their connection became public.
Reports of Misuse of Police Resources
According to The Mail on Sunday, the incident occurred in early 2011, just before the newspaper published the now-famous photograph showing Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell. The photo would go on to play a central role in Ms. Giuffre’s claims that she was trafficked and forced to have sex with the prince when she was 17 years old.
The paper alleged that Andrew asked one of his royal protection officers to dig into Giuffre’s background, even providing her date of birth and U.S. Social Security number—highly sensitive information that would have been illegal to access without authorization.
Another report by The Sunday Telegraph claimed that Andrew’s intention was to “dig up dirt” on Giuffre in an attempt to discredit her before her story reached the public domain.
Buckingham Palace has not commented on the reports, while representatives for Prince Andrew have declined to issue any statement. The prince, however, has consistently denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and continues to insist he has done nothing wrong.
Virginia Giuffre’s Legacy and Tragic Death
Virginia Giuffre, who became one of the most well-known victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s global sex trafficking network, took her own life earlier this year, according to family members. Her death reignited public anger toward Epstein’s powerful circle of associates, including Andrew, who has long been accused of shielding himself from accountability through royal privilege.
Giuffre had alleged that she was forced by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to have sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions between 2001 and 2002 — in London, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. One of these alleged encounters, she said, took place at Maxwell’s Belgravia townhouse when she was a minor.
Maxwell, a longtime confidante and former girlfriend of Epstein, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in the United States for sex trafficking minors.
Andrew Faces Renewed Calls to Lose Remaining Titles
Following the new allegations, Giuffre’s brother publicly called on King Charles III to strip Prince Andrew of his “Prince” title entirely, arguing that the decision to relinquish his other honors did not go far enough.
On Friday, Andrew announced that he would voluntarily give up his membership in the Order of the Garter, Britain’s oldest and most prestigious order of chivalry, and would also stop using his Duke of York title, which he received from his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, upon his marriage in 1986.
The move marks another significant step in Andrew’s gradual removal from royal life. Since early 2022, he has not been considered a working member of the Royal Family, lost the right to use the title “His Royal Highness (HRH),” and no longer represents the monarchy at public events.
Royal sources described the latest developments as part of a broader “clean break” strategy meant to distance the monarchy from scandals linked to Epstein’s network. However, critics argue that simply stepping back from duties is insufficient given the gravity of the accusations.
Settlement and the Shadow of Epstein
Prince Andrew’s reputation has never fully recovered from his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, the American financier whose 2019 arrest and subsequent death in jail exposed a web of sexual exploitation involving powerful men around the world.
In 2022, Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre after she filed a civil lawsuit in the United States accusing him of sexual assault. While the prince admitted no wrongdoing as part of the settlement, the undisclosed multimillion-pound payment was widely interpreted as an implicit acknowledgment of reputational damage.
Andrew has repeatedly insisted that he has no recollection of ever meeting Giuffre, despite the existence of the photo showing them together. In a now-infamous BBC Newsnight interview in November 2019, the prince claimed that he could not have been with Giuffre on the night she alleged they met, saying he had been at a Pizza Express restaurant in Woking with his daughter instead.
The interview was widely viewed as disastrous, drawing global criticism and prompting Andrew to step back from royal duties “for the foreseeable future.”
Contradictions and Leaked Emails
Though Andrew told the BBC he had cut ties with Epstein following his conviction in 2008, emails later obtained by investigators contradicted that claim. In correspondence dated February 2011 — just months after the now-questioned police inquiry — Andrew reportedly wrote to Epstein saying, “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!”
The revelations reignited speculation that the prince maintained a private friendship with Epstein long after publicly distancing himself.
The Metropolitan Police, which had previously reviewed Giuffre’s allegations and decided not to pursue a criminal investigation, is now facing pressure to reopen the case in light of these new claims involving alleged abuse of police authority.
A Memoir Set to Reignite the Scandal
Adding further pressure to the embattled royal, a posthumous memoir written by Giuffre is set to be published next week. Early reports suggest the book will provide unreleased details about her interactions with Epstein’s circle, including correspondence and diary entries that could shed new light on her experiences.
Publishers believe the memoir will renew public focus on Prince Andrew’s role in the Epstein scandal, particularly as he continues to deny wrongdoing while living largely out of the public eye.
Royal insiders have expressed concern that the book’s release could “undo years of damage control,” especially given the ongoing Metropolitan Police review.
A Prince in Exile from Public Life
Once considered one of the most active members of the royal family, Prince Andrew’s fall from grace has been swift and irreversible. The Duke — once lauded for his military service and patronage of youth organizations — now lives a quiet life at the Royal Lodge in Windsor with minimal staff and no public duties.
With the police investigation looming and renewed media scrutiny, royal watchers say it is unlikely he will ever return to any form of royal role.
A former palace aide told reporters, “This latest allegation, if proven, would show a shocking misuse of privilege. The palace will have no choice but to cut all remaining formal ties.”
The Road Ahead
For now, the Metropolitan Police have stressed that their inquiry into the media reports is in its early stages, and no formal investigation has yet been launched. However, given the growing public pressure and the sensitivity surrounding the royal family’s image, a deeper probe may follow.
Prince Andrew’s silence amid the controversy has done little to quell speculation. With Giuffre’s memoir on the horizon and international media attention reigniting, his future — both as a public figure and a royal — remains uncertain.