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Buckingham Palace has affirmed its willingness to cooperate with a potential police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential trade documents with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010. The announcement, made Monday, marks a significant departure from past royal responses to controversies surrounding the Duke of York and signals a more transparent approach under King Charles III.

The palace’s statement came after the U.S. Justice Department released a trove of documents related to Epstein, including emails suggesting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he is now formally known, provided official British trade information to Epstein following the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution. Thames Valley Police, which covers the area where Andrew formerly resided, confirmed It’s “assessing” the reports.

“The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. “While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect.”

The move represents a stark contrast to the approach taken during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who often favored a strategy of silence and maintaining the royal mystique. Under her leadership, the palace largely refrained from commenting on the growing allegations surrounding Prince Andrew’s association with Epstein and Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexual assault. Giuffre died by suicide in 2023.

The shift in approach began in late 2022, and accelerated in 2025, with King Charles taking decisive action to distance the monarchy from the scandal. In October 2025, Charles stripped his brother of his royal titles and duties, and subsequently compelled him to vacate Royal Lodge, his home of over 20 years, relocating him to a property on the Sandringham Estate.

Experts in royal affairs suggest the King’s actions are driven by a desire to protect the institution’s reputation and respond to public opinion. “Fifty or 100 years ago, you can imagine the gentlemen’s agreements that would have sought to bury this kind of story,” said Ed Owens, author of “After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?” “But, thankfully, we live in a more democratic age where people are rightly held accountable for their actions. In taking the moral high ground — and that is what the King is doing here — the monarchy is signalling very clearly that it recognises that public opinion demands that justice be served and that it is willing to comply with the police inquiry.”

The latest developments follow a disastrous 2019 BBC interview in which Prince Andrew attempted to defend his relationship with Epstein, offering explanations widely criticized as implausible and lacking empathy for Epstein’s victims. The interview prompted Queen Elizabeth II to force her son to step down from royal duties.

Craig Prescott, an expert on constitutional law and the monarchy at Royal Holloway, University of London, noted that the palace’s commitment to cooperate with police is part of a broader effort to contain the scandal and shield the rest of the royal family. “As long as it’s contained to Prince Andrew, then I think the monarchy’s relatively safe,” Prescott said.

Prince Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein. He has not yet publicly responded to the specific allegations regarding the sharing of confidential trade documents. The Thames Valley Police investigation remains in its preliminary stages, with no timeline established for a formal inquiry.