Scotland Yard is under intense scrutiny following explosive claims that police officers assigned to protect Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor effectively served as bouncers for a dinner party hosted by the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Newly released emails from the US Department of Justice suggest that taxpayer-funded protection officers were instructed to provide security for a celebrity soiree held at Epstein's New York residence in honour of the visiting royal.
Emails Reveal Security Details for Lavish Event
The emails, which have recently come to light, indicate that two royal protection officers from the Metropolitan Police were directed by Epstein's staff to guard the door of his East 71st Street townhouse during the dinner on December 2, 2010. In one email titled 'Security for party', a staff member wrote to Epstein, stating: 'The Duke's 2 protection officers along with state security will all be here for tomorrow's dinner party... Rich has given them instructions on the door. Do you wish Rich to stay for the party or is it ok for him to go home?'
The reference to 'state security' implies that US diplomatic protection officers were also present at the event. 'Rich' is believed to be Richard Barnett, Epstein's chief engineer and security fixer. This revelation has sparked concerns about the appropriateness of using public funds for such purposes, especially given Epstein's criminal background.
Senior Aide Dragged into Scandal
The disclosure risks implicating one of the King's most senior aides, Peter Loughborough, who was the head of the Met's royal protection squad at the time of the dinner in 2010. Loughborough later became Lord Steward of the Royal Household, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing investigations. Andrew has previously asserted that his trip to New York was solely to 'cut ties' with Epstein following the latter's 2008 conviction for soliciting child prostitution in Florida. However, the pair were famously photographed chatting and walking in Central Park, and it has since emerged that Epstein hosted a lavish dinner party for Andrew.
Guests at the event included Hollywood director Woody Allen, US news anchors Katie Couric and George Stephanopoulos, comedian Chelsea Handler, and talk show host Charlie Rose. Sir Mick Jagger was also invited but did not attend. The presence of these high-profile individuals has only heightened public interest in the case.
Metropolitan Police Response and Ongoing Reviews
In response to the allegations, the Metropolitan Police stated on Friday that they are contacting Andrew's former protection officers to determine whether they witnessed any potential wrongdoing. The force has adopted a more stringent tone, saying: 'They have been asked to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during that period of service may be relevant to our ongoing reviews and to share any information that could assist us.'
Notably, the Met has not commented on the specific email regarding protection officers at the Epstein dinner, leaving many questions unanswered. This lack of transparency has fuelled speculation and calls for a more thorough investigation.
Gordon Brown Demands Police Investigation
Adding to the pressure, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has demanded a police investigation into whether Andrew used taxpayer-funded jets and RAF bases to meet with Epstein. In letters sent to six police forces, Brown has called for civil servants to be questioned about Andrew's tenure as a trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, a period that includes nearly three years of Brown's own premiership.
The former Labour leader has requested that police interview officials from the Ministry of Defence, Department for Transport, Foreign Office, and the Treasury regarding Andrew's conduct. One particularly concerning incident involves a jet carrying Epstein and his madam Ghislaine Maxwell landing at Luton airport before proceeding to RAF Marham with two additional passengers, one of whom was listed as an unnamed 'female', according to flight logs.
This development raises serious questions about the misuse of public resources and the potential involvement of government agencies in facilitating meetings between Andrew and Epstein. The combination of these allegations paints a troubling picture of possible collusion and negligence within both law enforcement and governmental circles.
