Prince Andrew faces fresh scrutiny in Epstein-linked probe – UK police

UK police investigating former Prince Andrew said Friday they are also open to probing a claim of sexual misconduct against King Charles III’s brother.

Andrew, the second of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s three sons, was arrested in mid-February after new revelations stemming from his ties to the late billionaire US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Detectives at Thames Valley Police said Friday they have been in touch with the lawyer of a potential victim following reports a woman was brought to Windsor, a town north of London where Andrew was a resident, in 2010 “for sexual purposes”.

The force is reportedly concerned that the public believes they are only focused on accusations of misconduct in public office by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

They have been probing allegations that Andrew shared sensitive information with the disgraced financier Epstein during the former prince’s decade as UK trade envoy.

The force said their investigation was “examining a number of aspects of alleged misconduct following the release of files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act in the United States”.

In addition to the investigation into misconduct in public office, it stressed “the assessment of reports that a woman was taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes is ongoing”.

“We have engaged with the woman’s legal representative to confirm that, should she wish to report this to police, it will be taken seriously and handled with care, sensitivity and respect for her privacy and her right for anonymity,” the statement added.

The force repeated its appeal for anyone with relevant information to come forward.

After his arrest in February, Mountbatten-Windsor was questioned for hours at a police station on suspicion of misconduct in public office during his time travelling around the world as a UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.

Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged, but remains under police caution.

He was stripped of his royal titles in October by the king due to the growing scandal around his brother’s ties to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

He has also been ousted from his previous home at Royal Lodge in Windsor, just north of London, and has moved to the king’s private Sandringham Estate, in eastern Norfolk.

AFP