Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on Prince Andrew to testify before the US Congress regarding his connections to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking during a visit to Japan, Starmer stated that anyone with information should be prepared to share it, emphasising that Epstein's victims must be the priority.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, stripped of his royal titles last year, features prominently in the latest tranche of Epstein files released by the US justice department. The documents include images and emails suggesting he invited Epstein to Buckingham Palace in 2010, two years after Epstein's conviction for soliciting minors.
US Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who previously requested Andrew's deposition, accused him of hiding from investigations. The files also reveal that Epstein offered to arrange a dinner for Andrew with a 26-year-old Russian woman, to which Andrew reportedly responded positively.
In 2022, Andrew settled a civil lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, who alleged she was trafficked to him by Epstein. He paid an estimated £12 million without admitting liability. The newly released correspondence also shows Andrew sent intimate family photos to Epstein and maintained contact with Ghislaine Maxwell, now serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
Starmer declined to comment on whether Andrew should apologise, stating that was a matter for him. The prime minister reiterated his stance that testifying is necessary for a victim-centred approach to the case.
