![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2_Royal-Ascot-2022-Wednesday.jpg\")
The King at Royal Ascot earlier this year with Peter St Clair-Erskine(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nLord Peter Rosslyn, who is currently Lord Steward and personal secretary to King Charles, was head of royal protection at the Metopolitan Police between 2003 and 2014<\/p>\n
15:38, 21 Oct 2025Updated 15:40, 21 Oct 2025<\/p>\n
The King at Royal Ascot earlier this year with Peter St Clair-Erskine(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
One of the King’s most senior aides<\/a> was the head of royal protection when Prince Andrew allegedly asked a private protection officer<\/a> to ‘dig up dirt’ on his accuser Virginia Giufrre, it has emerged.<\/p>\n Lord Peter Rosslyn is currently Lord Steward and personal secrerary to both King Charles<\/a> and Queen Camilla<\/a> – one of the most highly-regarded jobs in the royal household. He previously served in the Metropolitan Police and for 11 years between 2003 and 2014 was the head of the elite Royalty and Diplomatic Protection squad.<\/p>\n At the weekend, allegations emerged that Andrew passed on private information on his sex abuse accuser to a police officer in an attempt to discredit her.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Virginia Giuffre ‘would have viewed Prince Andrew giving up titles as victory’<\/a>READ MORE: Andrew is an ’embarrassment’ and should be booted out of mansion, Robert Jenrick blasts<\/a> The Metropolitan Police said on Sunday that it is \u201cactively\u201d looking into claims Andrew passed her date of birth and social security number to his bodyguard in 2011 a bid to dig up dirt for a smear campaign. Andrew has always vehemently denied all allegations.<\/p>\n Back in 2011, Lord Rosslyn, also known as Peter Loughborough, held the role in charge of royal protection.<\/p>\n According to Sky News<\/a>, it is not known if he was made aware of Andrew’s alleged request to one of his own armed police bodyguards. The Metropolitan Police said it has nothing further to add to a statement from Sunday saying it was ‘actively’ looking into the allegations made.<\/p>\n Lord Rosslyn was the former master of the household at Clarence House and was appointed Lord Steward and personal secretary to Charles and Camilla in 2023, shortly before their Coronation. His job is to manage all aspects of the King’s personal affairs and non-state business.<\/p>\n It comes as pressure is growing on the royal family<\/a> to go further by backing a move to formally strip Andrew of his dukedom through parliamentary legislation, after he relinquished use of his Duke of York title last Friday.<\/p>\n Andrew relinquished his use of the title amid the long-running fallout of the Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> scandal and the publication of Virginia Giuffre\u2019s posthumous memoirs.<\/p>\n Formally stripping him of the title would require an Act of Parliament but Charles is believed to view the largely symbolic move as a waste of parliamentary time and the Government has said it will be guided by the royal family\u2019s views. But the Westminster leaders of the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru are among MPs calling for legislation.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, pressure is also mounting on Andrew to give up his 30-bedroom mansion after it emerged he has paid a \u201cpeppercorn rent\u201d on the property for more than 20 years.<\/p>\n Senior Tory Robert Jenrick said it was \u201cabout time Prince Andrew took himself off to live in private\u201d as \u201cthe public are sick of him\u201d. Parliamentary committees could also look into the Crown Estate\u2019s handling of Andrew\u2019s Royal Lodge residence in Windsor.<\/p>\n A copy of the leasehold agreement by the Crown Estate, which oversees the royal family\u2019s land and property holdings, shows Andrew signed a 75-year lease on the property in 2003.<\/p>\n It reveals he paid \u00a31 million for the lease and that since then he has paid \u201cone peppercorn\u201d of rent \u201cif demanded\u201d per year. He was also required to pay a further \u00a37.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005, according to a report by the National Audit Office.<\/p>\n The agreement also contains a clause which states the Crown Estate would have to pay Andrew around \u00a3558,000 if he gave up the lease.<\/p>\n Shadow justice secretary Mr Jenrick said: \u201cIt\u2019s about time Prince Andrew took himself off to live in private and make his own way in life.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has disgraced himself, he has embarrassed the royal family time and again. I don\u2019t see why the taxpayer, frankly, should continue to foot the bill at all. The public are sick of him. \u201d<\/p>\n Asked if Andrew should leave his Windsor residence, Mr Jenrick told BBC<\/a> Radio 4\u2019s Today: \u201cI don\u2019t think the taxpayer in any way should be footing the bill for him to live in luxury homes ever again.\u201d<\/p>\n Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal<\/p>\n WHATSAPP GROUP: <\/strong>Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Prince](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1_FILES-BRITAIN-ROYALS.jpg\")
Prince Andrew, who gave up his Duke of York title (Image: AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Lord](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761105918_327_0_The-Funeral-Of-The-Duchess-Of-Kent.jpg\")
Lord Rosslyn at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n