Prince Andrew has been reported to the Metropolitan Police by the anti-monarchy group Republic following allegations of s*xual a*sault in recently unsealed court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke of York, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, finds himself under renewed scrutiny as calls for investigation resurface on both sides of the Atlantic.
The unredacted documents released in the United States contain allegations that Andrew participated in an o**y with underage girls and touched a woman’s br**st while posing with a puppet of himself.
These claims mark a significant setback for Andrew, who was seen attempting to reintegrate into the royal family, most notably during his public appearance at his brother’s coronation in May.
Despite the ongoing controversy, plans were reportedly underway to move Andrew from his ten-bedroom Windsor home, Royal Lodge, to a smaller residence, reflecting his diminished royal status. The release of these documents is believed to have solidified King Charles’s resolve that Andrew will never resume royal duties.
Andrew, who settled a civil case out of court with Virginia Giuffre a year ago without admitting guilt, is mentioned over 70 times in nearly 1,000 pages of interviews and transcripts from a 2015 defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell. The documents also name more than 170 individuals associated with Epstein, including former US president Bill Clinton.
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, criticized the Metropolitan Police for their lack of action and called for a reopening of the case. He urged MPs to debate the matter in Parliament and for King Charles to address the allegations publicly. Smith highlighted the need for accountability, stating, “The question many people will be asking is simple: if the accused were anyone else, do we believe they wouldn’t have been investigated and prosecuted?”
US attorney Spencer Kuvin, representing some of Epstein’s victims, echoed the call for scrutiny, emphasizing Andrew’s refusal to fully account for his time with Epstein and the need for British police to reopen their investigation. Kuvin described Epstein as “one of the worst s*xual pr*dators of the century.”
Buckingham Palace has remained silent on the matter since Andrew stepped down as a working royal in 2019. The allegations include claims from Johanna Sjoberg, who alleged Andrew touched her br**st while posing with a Spitting Image puppet of himself in Epstein’s Manhattan apartment in 2001. The documents also allege that Epstein instructed a victim to comply with Andrew’s demands and that Maxwell acted as a “madame” for Epstein, facilitating the prince’s alleged s*xual abuse.
The documents further reveal an email from Maxwell expressing concern over questions about her relationship with Andrew and other high-profile figures. In a 2016 deposition, Maxwell recalled Andrew visiting Epstein’s private island only once.
As the legal and public scrutiny intensifies, the future of Prince Andrew’s role within the royal family and his public image remains uncertain, with the recent developments casting a long shadow over his attempts to rehabilitate his reputation.
