The Metropolitan Police has launched an inquiry into explosive claims that royal protection officers assigned to Prince Andrew deliberately ignored potential criminal activities during his visits to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island. This investigation follows disturbing testimony from a former officer within the Royalty and Specialist Protection command, who suggested that certain members may have witnessed abuse on Little St James but failed to report it.
Allegations of Wilful Blindness
According to the unnamed former Metropolitan Police officer, there are significant questions about what Andrew's protection team observed during at least two documented trips to Epstein's island, including one aboard the infamous private jet nicknamed the Lolita Express. The officer stated explicitly that while he is not accusing the team of directly witnessing criminal acts by Prince Andrew, there is a troubling concern that some officers chose to overlook what was happening around them.
'The big question for me is what Andrew's protection team witnessed on Epstein island,' the former officer revealed. 'I'm not suggesting they definitely witnessed any criminality from Andrew, but there was concern that certain members of the royal protection team wilfully turned a blind eye to what was happening on the island.'
Background of Abuse Allegations
These new police enquiries intersect with longstanding allegations from multiple survivors who claim they were trafficked to and abused on Little St James, which Epstein purchased in the US Virgin Islands in 1998. Most notably, Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew's primary accuser who died by suicide last year, alleged she was forced into sexual encounters with the royal on three occasions, including once on the island in the early 2000s.
Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022 due to his association with Epstein, continues to vehemently deny any wrongdoing. The disgraced financier Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Metropolitan Police Statement
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police provided a formal response, stating: 'At this time, we have not identified any wrongdoing by any protection officers. However, initial enquiries into these specific allegations have begun so we can establish the facts. As with any investigation, should any new allegations come to light these will be assessed in the usual way. This includes any misconduct or criminal matters.'
Concerns Over Loyalty and Culture
During a recent interview on LBC radio, the former protection officer elaborated on what he described as 'real concerns' about the relationship dynamics between royal bodyguards and the Royal Family. He alleged that some officers became excessively close to their principals, potentially compromising their professional duties.
'They seemed more loyal to the Royal Family than to the Met - and that's wrong,' he explained. 'We used to say they were 'more royal than the Royals'. Some of them started to wear signet rings and talking and behaving more like members of the Royal Family than a police officer.'
The officer further claimed that members of the Royal Protection Unit were often 'terrified' to report questionable behaviour, citing instances where colleagues who had filed reports in the past were removed from their positions and 'put back in uniform' as a form of punishment.
Broader Investigative Landscape
This Metropolitan Police assessment forms part of a wider pattern of law enforcement activity across the United Kingdom following the release of over three million documents from the Epstein case files. Multiple police forces are currently evaluating whether to launch formal investigations based on the newly public information.
Thames Valley Police is specifically reviewing allegations that Epstein provided Prince Andrew with a woman for sexual purposes at the Royal Lodge in Windsor in 2010. Additionally, the force is 'assessing' claims published in the Epstein Files that Andrew shared confidential government material with Epstein during his tenure as the UK's special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.
Meanwhile, both Essex and Bedfordshire Police are examining flight logs related to Epstein's private jet, which utilized terminals at Stansted and Luton Airports on various occasions. These parallel investigations indicate a coordinated effort to thoroughly examine all aspects of Epstein's UK connections and the conduct of those associated with him.
The unfolding situation presents significant challenges for both the Metropolitan Police and the Royal Household, as they navigate allegations of professional misconduct within the elite protection command while addressing the persistent shadow of the Epstein scandal.
