An independent investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Jeffrey Epstein must go to the very top, a former royal security chief has insisted. Dai Davies joined MPs in calling for a probe, insisting: “For too long the establishment has taken us, the public, for fools. The truth, warts and all, must come out.”
Mr Davies, head of Scotland Yard’s Royal Protection Command from 1994 to 1998 told the Mirror: “We need a judge-led independent inquiry to investigate everything and get answers. It needs to have the power to call people at all levels, including people from the Palace, diplomats, private secretaries and press officers to find out exactly who knew what and when.”
Referring to a new law being drafted to ensure public officials act with candour and transparency, he said: “The Hillsborough Law needs to be applied to make sure they are all called to tell the truth. I believe there has been a conspiracy of silence at all levels.”
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Lib Dem MP Layla Moran said: “We want an independent public inquiry to really get to the bottom of what all parts of our state knew. What did the police know? What did the Palace know? What did government know? What did Number 10 know at what stage?
“This is critically important. This goes beyond the Crown. It goes right to the heart of the relationship between the establishment and elites. Transparency is the way to do this. We need to get to the bottom of all of it, not just Andrew.”
A second Lib Dem MP, Lisa Smart, who has called on Andrew to repay unpaid rent on his former Royal Lodge home, told the Mirror: “We risk doing serious damage to the British social and political fabric without a full statutory inquiry into the Andrew scandal. We owe it to victims of these awful acts to leave no stone unturned.”
She added: “Everyone implicated must be compelled to give evidence.”
Labour MP Richard Burgon said: “There must be an independent inquiry into what the Royal Family knew about his Epstein links.”
They spoke out after it was revealed an influential group of MPs will meet to consider a parliamentary probe into the role of UK trade envoys following Andrew’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The Business and Trade Committee will discuss its options on Tuesday amid a police investigation into the disgraced former prince following the release of the latest batch of Epstein files.
Any inquiry could reportedly focus on governance issues, avoiding specific commentary on Andrew until there is no risk of prejudicing criminal proceedings. As fingertip police searches of his 30-room former home Royal Lodge in Berkshire continued, Andrew yesterday remained holed up in his temporary pad in Norfolk, where a Waitrose delivery van was seen arriving.
He has not been seen since he was photographed slouched in the back of a car returning home after being released under investigation by police. He spent 11 hours in police custody on Thursday, his 66th birthday, after he was arrested amid claims he supplied late financier Epstein with confidential information while UK trade envoy.
Andrew’s 10-year spell in the role generated controversy and led to him being dubbed Air Miles Andy for his extensive globe-trotting. He also faced a backlash for going to a party in New York during an official visit after the 9/11 attacks.
And his relations with Timor Kulibayev, son-in-law of the president of Kazakhstan, were scrutinised after Mr Kulibayev bought the ex-duke’s Sunninghill Park home for £3million over its £12m asking price in 2007. He also faced questions over links to politicians in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Libya and Turkmenistan.
Plain-clothed officers arrested him at Wood Farm, Sandringham, at 8am on Thursday, just two weeks after he moved into the property while his new home Marsh Farm is refurbished. On Friday, he faced a new triple blow as it was announced his former taxpayer-funded protection officers were being quizzed by police over his relationship with Epstein.
The Metropolitan Police also said it was working with US counterparts to see if London airports were used to “facilitate trafficking and sexual exploitation” via Epstein’s “Lolita Express” jet. And it was revealed he is likely to be stripped of his position as eighth in line to the throne under government plans. Ten UK police forces are reviewing material from the latest Epstein files.
The furore has led to suggestions the monarchy could be at risk. Mr Burgon said he believes it’s “time for a serious national debate about abolishing the monarchy”.
But Mr Davies said: “I believe the majority of people want the monarchy to continue. But it must show integrity and a total acceptance of the harm hiding the truth has done.”
By releasing Andrew under investigation, police and prosecution lawyers have no time limits before deciding whether to charge him. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links to but has not directly respon-ded to the latest allegations.
