New reports allege that Prince Andrew attempted to obtain confidential personal information about his accuser Virginia Giuffre through his police protection officers in 2011, according to British media outlets on Sunday. This development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and recent decisions to relinquish his royal titles.
The Mail on Sunday and Sunday Telegraph published accounts claiming that Andrew provided his protection officer with Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number, requesting an investigation just before a photo of their meeting was published in 2011. The Metropolitan Police confirmed it is “actively looking into the claims,” while Buckingham Palace has not commented. Andrew has consistently denied all allegations against him, maintaining his innocence throughout the years.
Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year, had accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her on three occasions when she was a teenager, including at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking related to Epstein, and Giuffre was among the many young women exploited by their circle. Her allegations have been central to the legal and public fallout surrounding Epstein’s network.
In 2022, Andrew settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre out of court, making a financial payment without admitting guilt. The recent media reports have reignited public and political pressure on the royal family to take further action against Andrew, who has been a non-working royal since 2019. His decision to give up titles like Duke of York was described as an effort to avoid distracting from the monarchy’s work.
Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, welcomed Andrew’s decision to give up his titles but called on King Charles III to strip him of the “prince” title entirely. He expressed that his sister would have been proud of the progress but emphasized the need for accountability for all involved in the Epstein scandal. Roberts noted that he would welcome contact from the King or parliament members to discuss further steps.
The timing of these reports coincides with the upcoming publication of Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, which is expected to provide more details about her experiences. In the book, she mentions agreeing to a gag order to avoid tarnishing Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee in 2022, highlighting the complex interplay between personal legal matters and royal events.
Prince Andrew’s association with Epstein has been a persistent issue, highlighted by his controversial 2019 BBC Newsnight interview where he claimed to have cut ties with Epstein in 2010, though emails later revealed continued contact. The royal family has faced calls to distance itself further from Andrew to protect the monarchy’s reputation, with some suggesting bans from future coronations or other official functions.
Looking ahead, the police investigation into the new claims could lead to formal inquiries, and the memoir’s release may fuel more discussions about accountability and justice. Andrew is expected to remain in his Windsor home, but his role within the royal family appears increasingly isolated, reflecting broader efforts to uphold institutional integrity amid scandal.