A Buckingham Palace source said new allegations against Andrew were ‘very serious’ and should be ‘examined in the appropriate way’ after Scotland Yard confirmed they were ‘actively’ looking into the claims
New allegations against Prince Andrew are of “very serious and grave concern” and should be “examined in the appropriate way”, a Buckingham Palace source has said.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is “actively” looking into claims Andrew passed his sex accuser Virginia Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number to his bodyguard in a bid to dig up dirt for a smear campaign.
It comes amid the publication of Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs in which she wrote that Andrew’s team tried to hire “internet trolls to hassle” her. Andrew has consistently denied having sex with Ms Giuffre.
The King’s brother relinquished his Duke of York title on Friday amid intensified focus on his links with Epstein, and on Ms Giuffre’s allegations.
A Palace source told the PA news agency that action was needed because of “what lies at the heart of this, the broader allegations and the issues highlighted”.
They added that the “new allegations that have been brought up” are of “very serious and grave concern” and “should be examined in the appropriate way”.
Pressure is growing on the Royal Family to go further by backing a move to formally strip Andrew of his dukedom through parliamentary legislation.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the question of legislation was “a matter for the palace in the first instance” and that ministers “support the judgment of the King”‘ regarding Andrew’s titles.
York Central Labour MP Rachael Maskell has called on Parliament to “act” over removing Andrew’s titles, while the SNP’s leader at Westminster Stephen Flynn said there is “no justification” for the UK Government not to bring forward an Act to do so, saying the British public were “angry and aghast”.
