LONDON – British police said Wednesday they had consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service as part of an ongoing assessment into allegations that former Prince Andrew shared confidential documents with the late convicted man Jeffrey Epstein.
“Thames Valley Police is leading an ongoing assessment of allegations related to misconduct in public office,” the force’s deputy chief constable Oliver Wright said in a statement. “This specifically relates to documents within the Epstein file at the U.S. Department of Justice.”
As part of the assessment, he said investigators had “consulted with Crown Prosecution experts” from the Crown Prosecution Service, the independent body responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in the UK.
“During the evaluation phase, information will be evaluated to determine whether there is any suspicion of criminal activity and whether a full investigation is warranted,” he said in a statement.
The Justice Department’s recent release of millions of documents relating to Epstein has brought further criticism to the embattled royal family, who was stripped of his royal title last year and is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
NBC News has reached out to a Mountbatten-Windsor spokesperson for comment on the latest police statement.
After police announced on Monday that they were investigating the allegations, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said in a statement that Mountbatten-Windsor’s brother, King Charles III, was “ready to assist” police should they approach them.
“Prince Charles has made clear through his words and unprecedented actions his deep concern about the allegations that continue to come to light regarding Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” a spokesperson said. “Their thoughts and sympathies remain with those who have been and remain victims of abuse in all its forms.”
Prince William and his wife Princess Kate of Wales also spoke out on Monday. A Kensington Palace spokesperson told reporters they were “deeply concerned by the continuing revelations” and their thoughts remained “focused on the victims”.
The latest controversy centers on an email exchange dated November 30, 2010, when Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was British trade envoy. Newly released documents from the Epstein file, reviewed by NBC News, appear to show that the former prince sent Epstein reports on his travels to Southeast Asia and information about investment opportunities in Afghanistan.
Trade envoys are typically prohibited from sharing confidential or commercial documents under confidentiality rules. Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, Andrew, served as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from 2001 to 2011.
Britain’s Department of Commerce and Industry told NBC News on Monday that it stands ready to assist police in investigating the allegations.
Mountbatten-Windsor has weathered a storm of controversy for years over her relationship with Epstein.
One of the most high-profile survivors of Epstein’s sexual abuse, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, filed a lawsuit in 2021 alleging that she was sexually abused by the former prince when she was 17, alleging that Epstein trafficked her to his powerful friends, including Andrew.
Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing in connection with her relationship with Epstein, but reached a legal settlement with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed amount.
