Buckingham Palace issued a statement Monday evening distancing itself from Prince Andrew, as the Thames Valley Police faced calls to investigate his conduct while serving as a special envoy for trade, and investment. The move followed the release of a trove of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, revealing a pattern of communication between the former prince and the convicted sex offender.
A series of emails dating back to 2010 reportedly display Prince Andrew sharing confidential information regarding UK government plans and relationships with Epstein, who was hosting him in New York. According to reports, the former prince forwarded reports on his missions to Asia and Afghanistan to Epstein’s email address within minutes of receiving them. He too allegedly engaged in lobbying efforts on Epstein’s behalf during a visit to the United Arab Emirates with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
The revelations have drawn comparisons to the actions of Peter Mandelson, a former Business Secretary during the Labour government of Gordon Brown, and prompted scrutiny of potential misconduct by a member of the royal family. The Metropolitan Police has stated it is “actively looking into” the reports, while a retired former head of royalty protection, Dai Davies, suggested the actions may have constituted misconduct in a public office.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly stated that Prince Andrew should testify before a U.S. Congressional committee investigating Epstein’s crimes. “Firstly, I always approach this question with the victims of Epstein in mind,” Starmer said Saturday, upon arriving in Japan. “Epstein’s victims have to be the first priority… yes, in terms of testifying, I’ve always said anybody who’s got information should be prepared to share that information.”
The palace’s statement came as the Prince and Princess of Wales began an official visit to Saudi Arabia. During a press briefing in Riyadh, a palace spokesperson unexpectedly voiced “strong concern” from William and Kate regarding the emerging news and reiterated their sympathy for Epstein’s victims. While no one at the palace has publicly mentioned Epstein by name, his association with the royal family remains a sensitive issue, particularly given a photograph of him with then-President Donald Trump was displayed during Trump’s state visit to the UK last September.
Prince William is reportedly seeking to manage the monarchy’s public image during the visit, emphasizing the UK’s soft power and strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia. Relations between the two countries were strained following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but have been gradually improving ahead of the 2027 centenary of the Jeddah treaty on cooperation. William is expected to raise human rights concerns privately with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following a similar approach taken by King Charles III.
The situation is further complicated by Ghislaine Maxwell’s refusal to testify before the congressional oversight committee, reportedly seeking a pardon from Donald Trump in exchange for her cooperation. Despite this, the ongoing release of over 3 million documents from the Epstein files continues to reverberate across Europe, with the UK and Norway facing particular scrutiny regarding the conduct of public figures linked to Epstein.
