The Metropolitan Police is looking into allegations that Prince Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded bodyguard to gather information on Virginia Giuffre.
Documents show Andrew saying he had asked one of his elite personal protection officers to find damaging information about Giuffre shortly before a notorious photograph of the pair with Ghislaine Maxwell was published in 2011, according to the Mail on Sunday.
There is no suggestion that the police officer complied with this request.
In an email to Ed Perkins, the Queen’s deputy press secretary, Andrew wrote that he had passed on Giuffre’s date of birth and US social security number to his officer for investigation.
“It would also seem she has a criminal record in the [United] States. I have given her DoB [date of birth] and social security number for investigation with … the on-duty PPO [personal protection officer],” Andrew allegedly wrote.
It remains unclear how Andrew obtained the social security number, which is a sensitive piece of personal information used for employment, banking, loans, and taxes.
The Met confirmed in a statement on Sunday morning: “We are aware of media reporting and are actively looking into the claims made.”
Andrew relinquished his royal titles, including Duke of York and Knight of the Garter, on Friday over his association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Emails currently with the US Congress have been reportedly obtained by the Mail on Sunday, including an email in which Andrew acknowledged that he might have met Giuffre and that a photograph could exist, despite later claiming he had no memory of meeting her.
Giuffre’s family said the new evidence “exposes the lengths to which those implicated try to discredit and defame survivors.”
Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell to be abused at age 17, claiming Andrew sexually abused her in 2001 — claims he has always denied. In her posthumously-released memoir, which will be released this week, she wrote that Andrew believed having sex with her was his “birthright.”
In 2022, Andrew settled a civil lawsuit filed by Giuffre in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, reportedly paying $12 million, without admitting liability.
The Duke of York with Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK/GETTY IMAGES
A now-infamous photograph shows Andrew with his arm around 17-year-old Giuffre at Maxwell’s London residence in March 2001. The Mail first obtained the photograph in February 2011 and sought a response from Andrew.
Emails reportedly show that on February 25, 2011, two days before the photograph was published, Andrew complained to Epstein that the Mail was “gratuitously trying it on”.
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The next day, Perkins emailed the photograph to Andrew. He responded: “I’ve just had a short conversation with Ghislaine [Maxwell] and she says VR [Virginia Roberts] is a lying so and so… but this is consistent with what JE [Jeffrey Epstein] says.”
Perkins replied: “Indeed Sir. All received. Awaiting their response now. Lawyers primed.”
Andrew then told Perkins he believed Giuffre had a criminal record in the US and had shared her social security number and date of birth with his protection officer. He later forwarded these emails to Epstein. There is no evidence Giuffre had a criminal record.
Andrew declined to comment when approached by the Mail. The Metropolitan Police said they were looking into the claims.