UK police have spoken with Crown prosecutors over investigations into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and former UK ambassador to Washington’s Peter Mandelson’s links with Jeffrey Epstein.
Thames Valley Police, which serves areas west of London, including the ex-royal’s former home in Windsor, on Monday said it was “assessing” claims that former prince Andrew sent confidential trade reports to Epstein.
On Wednesday (early Thursday AEDT), both the police service and prosecutors confirmed they’d spoken. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all accusations of wrongdoing in relation to his association with Epstein.
“As part of this assessment, we have engaged in discussions with Specialist Crown Prosecutors from the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service),” Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said.
“We will provide updates as and when they are available, but at this stage it would be inappropriate to discuss further specifics of this work.
UK chief prosecutor Stephen Parkinson earlier in the day told reporters that the Crown Prosecution Service had been in touch with both Thames Valley Police and London’s Metropolitan Police but had “not been asked for formal advice yet”.
“In complex and sensitive cases, the CPS and the police do work together and I am sure … we will do so,” he said.
“But the position at the moment is that we made contact and we won’t be giving step-by-step updates.”
Police said they couldn’t provide a timescale for a decision as to whether a criminal investigation will be opened.
The investigation came after news organisations reported on emails that suggest the then-prince sent Epstein reports from a 2010 tour of South East Asia he took as Britain’s envoy for international trade.
An anti-monarchy campaigner said he reported the former prince for suspected misconduct in public office and breaches of Britain’s Official Secrets Act as a result of the emails, which were among the more than 3 million pages of documents released last month by the US Justice Department.
King Charles on Tuesday said he “stands ready to support” any police investigation into his brother’s links to Epstein.
“The king 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,” a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
“While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect.”
He was stripped of his royal titles last year after details of his apparent communication with Epstein and the latter’s partner and associate Ghislaine Maxwell were released by the US Justice Department.
Mandelson is separately under investigation over alleged misconduct in public office, following claims he leaked market-sensitive information to Epstein while a government minister during the financial crash.
– Reported with Reuters and Associated Press