Prince Andrew: Met Police drop investigation into allegations of sex abuse

Scotland Yard has made a shock move in its investigation after reportedly speaking with Prince Andrew’s Australian-based accuser.

London’s Met Police has dropped its investigation into Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein.

The force said it had carried out two reviews into claims made by women that they had been allegedly abused by Andrew and Epstein but would take “no further action”.

Officers reportedly spoke with his Australian-based accuser Virginia Giuffre before making the announcement.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “The Metropolitan Police Service continues to liaise with other law enforcement agencies who lead the investigation into matters related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew parties with Melania Trump, Gwendolyn Beck and Jeffrey Epstein at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in 2000. Picture: Getty Images

“As a matter of procedure MPS officers reviewed a document released in August 2021 as part of a US civil action. This review has concluded and we are taking no further action.

“We also reviewed information passed to us by a media organisation in June 2021. This review is complete and no further action will be taken.”

In August, Met chief Cressida Dick said a review was under way following the new wave of trouble facing the 61-year-old over his links to disgraced Epstein.

Prince Andrew is considered by Prince William to be “a threat to the royal family”, according to reports. Picture: AFP

Speaking on radio station LBC London, Dame Cressida said: “No one is above the law.

“It’s been reviewed twice before, we’ve worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, we are of course open to working with authorities overseas, we will give them every assistance if they ask us for anything within the law obviously.”

Virginia Giuffre, 38, who now lives in Queensland, has launched a US civil case against Prince Andrew, accusing him of sexually abusing her two decades ago when she was aged 17.

Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre in the now infamous photo taken at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London. Picture: Florida Southern District Court

Prince Andrew, who is not facing any criminal charges, “categorically” denies Ms Giuffre’s claims against him.

The latest development comes amid reports from The Sunday Times that the Duke of York will not return to public life after Prince Charles, Prince Edward and Princess Anne closed the door on him and Prince William branded him a “threat to the royal family”.

‘There is no way in the world he’s ever coming back, the family will never let it happen,” a royal source said, according to The Sunday Times.

“William is no fan of Uncle Andrew,” another source, a friend of William’s, is reported to have said.

Prince William reportedly thinks Prince Andrew’s behaviour is “dangerous”. Picture: AFP

The Sunday Times reported that Prince William was “triggered” by his uncle’s perceived “ungracious and ungrateful” attitude towards his position, which William considers “a risk” and a ‘threat to the family.’

“Any suggestion that there isn’t gratitude for the institution, anything that could lead anyone in the public to think that senior members of the royal family aren’t grateful for their position, (William thinks) is really dangerous,” The Sunday Times quoted the source as saying.

The scathing article also alleged Prince Andrew is not popular in royal circles due to his “demanding” and “diva-like” behaviour, with one source describing him as “a self-important bore”.

Rumours abound that Sarah, Duchess of York and Prince Andrew - who recently became grandparents - will eventually remarry. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

One former staff member told The Sunday Times: “He’s quite an arrogant chap with a tendency to blame other people when things go wrong, instead of looking at his own behaviour. The Duke of York has never been one to take advice that doesn’t suit him, and he doesn’t hold back in letting you know what to do with that advice when he doesn’t want to hear.”

Another royal aide called him “a deeply unpleasant man”.

“The difference you see between him and the way Prince William and the Prince of Wales treat their staff with respect, straight out of the Queen’s handbook, is stark,” the royal aide said.

The Sunday Times reported that for all his detractors, Prince Andrew still has the support of his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York and it is rumoured they will eventually remarry.

A friend of the couple, who divorced in 1996, told the paper: “He loves her and she loves him.”

Originally published as Prince Andrew: Met Police drop investigation into allegations of sex abuse