The head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has declared that “nobody is above the law” as pressure mounts on police to investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links with Jeffrey Epstein. Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales, told the Sunday Times that he enforces the law “without fear or favour”, regardless of an individual’s status.
Thames Valley Police confirmed earlier this week that they are in discussions with the CPS over allegations of misconduct in public office against the former prince. Parkinson expressed “total confidence” that detectives would examine any relevant evidence pointing to criminality, adding that the core of the offence is a “gross breach of trust” by a public officer.
The allegations centre on Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct as UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. Emails released in the Epstein files suggest he shared confidential information with the convicted sex offender. David Stern, a business associate and friend of Mountbatten-Windsor, was in regular contact with Epstein and arranged meetings for the former prince based on Epstein’s suggestions during publicly funded visits to China in 2010.
Evidence compiled by the Mail on Sunday reveals that Mountbatten-Windsor allegedly leaked sensitive information about the Royal Bank of Scotland and that a senior palace aide leaked an official diplomatic cable about UK-China trade relations. Epstein boasted in an email: “I’ve got the UK sewn up.”
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for a full police investigation, describing the revelations as “by far the biggest scandal of all”. Former Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable also urged a police check for criminal corruption and a government investigation into how the alleged behaviour was allowed to occur.
Thames Valley Police are reviewing allegations that Epstein provided Mountbatten-Windsor with a woman for sex at Royal Lodge in 2010, alongside the misconduct claims. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
