Pressure is mounting on Scotland Yard to open a criminal investigation into Prince Andrew following disturbing claims that he asked a police bodyguard to dig up damaging information on Virginia Giuffre.
The revelation, first brought to light by The Mail on Sunday, suggests the Duke of York may have sought to misuse his official protection officers to smear the woman who accused him of sexual abuse linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
According to newly released documents, Andrew allegedly provided Ms. Giuffre’s date of birth and confidential U.S. social security number to one of his taxpayer-funded security officers, asking them to look for incriminating details.
The alleged request came just hours before the infamous 2011 photo emerged, showing him alongside a then-17-year-old Giuffre.
The Email That Sparked Outrage
In an email to Queen Elizabeth II’s deputy press secretary, Ed Perkins, Andrew reportedly admitted to seeking help from one of the officers in the Met’s SO14 Royalty Protection Group.
He wrote, “It would also seem she has a criminal record in the States. I have given her DoB and social security number for investigation with XXX, the on-duty PPO.”
While there is no evidence that the officer acted on the request, the revelation has drawn widespread condemnation.
Ms. Giuffre’s family insists she never had a criminal record, raising serious concerns about the prince’s intentions and use of public resources.
Scotland Yard’s Response and the Legal Implications
The Metropolitan Police has launched an urgent internal review to determine whether any officer followed through on the prince’s alleged request.
A spokesperson confirmed, “We are actively looking into the claims made,” adding that it could take weeks to sift through over a decade’s worth of archived emails and logs.
Dai Davies, the Met’s former head of royalty protection, emphasized that the email alone could constitute a criminal offence.
“Even if the officer didn’t act, asking a police officer to dig up information about a victim of sexual abuse is outside their duties. That’s misconduct in public office,” he explained.
Davies urged Scotland Yard to conduct a full criminal probe and interview Andrew under caution.
Public Figures Demand Accountability
The controversy has drawn sharp criticism from politicians and legal experts.
Senior Labour MP Ed Miliband called the claims “deeply concerning,” noting that using protection officers for personal gain is “absolutely inappropriate.”
Barrister Charlotte Proudman, known for representing survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, condemned Andrew’s alleged conduct as “utterly despicable and reprehensible.”
She said, “This shows a powerful man using his taxpayer-funded connections to target a survivor of sex trafficking. It’s disgusting and must be investigated.”
Voices from the Media and the Public
Broadcaster Emily Maitlis, who famously interviewed the Duke in his controversial 2019 Newsnight special, also weighed in.
“I’m glad the police are taking this seriously,” she said.
“If anyone tried to make Virginia Giuffre’s life more unbearable than it already was, justice needs to be done.”
Meanwhile, the release of Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs—set to hit shelves this week—has reignited scrutiny of her allegations against the Duke.
Giuffre, who tragically took her own life earlier this year, had claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew—allegations the prince has always strongly denied.
The Fallout and What Comes Next
The fallout from these revelations has been swift and severe.
Andrew has already been stripped of his remaining royal titles, and the new email evidence raises fresh questions about his conduct and judgment.
There are also concerns about whether other palace officials were aware of or failed to report his alleged request.
Legal experts say the case could hinge on whether any officer acted on Andrew’s request—and whether that constitutes an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
For now, the world watches as Scotland Yard reviews the evidence, with growing calls for the prince to face formal questioning.
What began as a troubling email may soon evolve into one of the most serious criminal inquiries involving a member of the royal family in modern times.