King Charles has expressed his “profound concern” over allegations about Prince Andrew and will “stand ready to support” the police if approached over the claims, Buckingham Palace has said.
Thames Valley police confirmed on Monday they were assessing claims that Prince Andrew shared confidential reports from his role as a government trade envoy with the child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010. The allegations emerged after the release of emails by the US Department of Justice earlier this month.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “The king has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct.” The spokesperson added that the “specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address”, but said if approached by Thames Valley police, the palace stood ready to support them.
The emails indicate that on 7 October 2010, Prince Andrew sent Epstein details of his official upcoming trips to Singapore, Vietnam, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. After the trip, on 30 November, he appears to have forwarded official reports of those visits sent by his then special assistant, Amit Patel, to Epstein five minutes after receiving them. Thames Valley police are also assessing a separate report that a second woman claimed she was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with the then prince in 2010.
Government guidance stresses that the role of a trade envoy carries a duty of confidentiality regarding sensitive information, including “sensitive, commercial, or political information shared about relevant markets/visits”. Earlier on Monday, William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, were said by a spokesperson to be “deeply concerned” by continuing revelations from the Epstein files, with their thoughts focused on victims.
Previously disclosed emails suggested that Prince Andrew had lobbied on behalf of Epstein during an official visit to the United Arab Emirates with his parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, in 2010. The messages concerning overseas trips were sent after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
