U.K. police consult criminal prosecutors about Andrew-Epstein allegations

LONDON — British police said Wednesday they had spoken with criminal prosecutors as part of an ongoing assessment of allegations that former Prince Andrew shared confidential documents with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“Thames Valley Police is leading the ongoing assessment of allegations relating to misconduct in public office,” the force’s Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement. “This specifically relates to documents within the United States Department of Justice’s Epstein Files.”

As part of the assessment, he said investigators had “engaged in discussions with Specialist Crown Prosecutors” from the Crown Prosecution Service, the independent body responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in the U.K.

“During an assessment phase, information is evaluated to determine whether a criminal offence is suspected and whether a full investigation is required,” he said in the statement.

• Add to Google

Lawmakers begin review of unredacted Epstein files

02:36

The recent release by the Justice Department of millions of documents related to Epstein has brought further criticism to the beleaguered royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after he was stripped of his titles last year.

NBC News has reached out to Mountbatten-Windsor’s spokesperson for comment on the latest police statement.

After police said Monday they were assessing the claims, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said in a statement that King Charles III, Mountbatten-Windsor's older brother, was “ready to support” police if they approached him.

Charles “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 said. “Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.”

Prince William and his wife, Kate, the Princess of Wales, also spoke out on Monday. A Kensington Palace spokesperson told journalists they “have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations,” and their thoughts remained “focused on the victims.”

At the center of the latest controversy is an email exchange from Nov. 30, 2010, when Mountbatten-Windsor was a U.K. trade envoy. Seen by NBC News, the documents from the latest release of Epstein files appear to show the former prince sending Epstein reports on his visits to Southeast Asia and information about investment opportunities in Afghanistan.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSHow we reported the saga of the CIA officer and his gold-bar stash

FOR SUBSCRIBERS‘We’re going to beat you to death with audits’: Brad Raffensperger gears up to oversee his final election in Georgia

FOR SUBSCRIBERSWhat happened inside the room where officials tried to execute Christa Pike by lethal injection

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDiddy is punished following NBC News report on his VIP life in prison and contraband cellphone use

FOR SUBSCRIBERS‘Too young to vote, old enough to be tear gassed’: French protesters’ anger swells

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDOJ gets aggressive in suing states that challenge Trump’s immigration policies

FOR SUBSCRIBERSJustice Department seeks criminal charge for former Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson

FOR SUBSCRIBERS‘I just want to hold him’: USS Lincoln sailor to meet his 10-month-old son as ship docks

FOR SUBSCRIBERSSenate candidates run on raising Social Security taxes for higher incomes to prevent benefit cuts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRussian operation that used ChatGPT tricked schools, a politician and media, OpenAI says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump administration’s deal with Nevada fuels data center fight in governor’s race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSLatino voters reject Trump’s immigration policies — and detail the personal impact

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAs Democrats eye big midterm gains, the Wisconsin governor’s race remains a nail-biter

FOR SUBSCRIBERSU.S. military prepares new Iran war options ahead of midterm elections

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCIA probe into intel leak led to discovery of gold bars at agent’s home, sources say

Slide 1 of 1

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSHow we reported the saga of the CIA officer and his gold-bar stash

FOR SUBSCRIBERS‘We’re going to beat you to death with audits’: Brad Raffensperger gears up to oversee his final election in Georgia

FOR SUBSCRIBERSWhat happened inside the room where officials tried to execute Christa Pike by lethal injection

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDiddy is punished following NBC News report on his VIP life in prison and contraband cellphone use

FOR SUBSCRIBERS‘Too young to vote, old enough to be tear gassed’: French protesters’ anger swells

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDOJ gets aggressive in suing states that challenge Trump’s immigration policies

FOR SUBSCRIBERSJustice Department seeks criminal charge for former Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson

FOR SUBSCRIBERS‘I just want to hold him’: USS Lincoln sailor to meet his 10-month-old son as ship docks

FOR SUBSCRIBERSSenate candidates run on raising Social Security taxes for higher incomes to prevent benefit cuts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRussian operation that used ChatGPT tricked schools, a politician and media, OpenAI says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump administration’s deal with Nevada fuels data center fight in governor’s race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSLatino voters reject Trump’s immigration policies — and detail the personal impact

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAs Democrats eye big midterm gains, the Wisconsin governor’s race remains a nail-biter

FOR SUBSCRIBERSU.S. military prepares new Iran war options ahead of midterm elections

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCIA probe into intel leak led to discovery of gold bars at agent’s home, sources say

Slide 1 of 1

Trade envoys are usually barred from sharing sensitive or commercial documents under confidentiality rules. Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, was the United Kingdom’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 to 2011.

The U.K. Department for Business and Trade told NBC News on Monday that it was ready to help police assess the allegations.

Mountbatten-Windsor has been weathering a storm of controversy for years over his ties with Epstein.

One of the most prominent survivors of Epstein’s sexual abuse, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, alleged that the financier trafficked her to his powerful friends, including Andrew, against whom she filed a lawsuit in 2021 alleging that the former prince sexually abused her when she was 17.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who has always denied any wrongdoing in connection to his affiliation with Epstein, reached a legal settlement with Giuffre for an undisclosed amount in 2022.