Thames Valley Police have confirmed they are currently assessing serious allegations that a woman was trafficked to the United Kingdom for the purpose of a sexual encounter with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The force stated they are "aware of reports" and are "assessing the information" in accordance with established procedures, though no formal report has been made directly to them by the alleged victim or her legal representatives.
Details of the Allegations
According to her US attorney, Brad Edwards of the law firm Edwards Henderson, the woman claims she was sent to the UK by the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010. It is alleged she spent a night at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, which was then the residence of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and was subsequently given a tour of Buckingham Palace. The woman, who is not British, was reportedly in her twenties at the time of the alleged incident.
Legal Appeals and Police Response
Lawyers representing the woman have publicly urged King Charles III to contact them regarding these allegations involving his brother. In a formal statement, a Thames Valley Police spokesperson emphasised: "We take any reports of sexual crimes extremely seriously and encourage anyone with information to come forward." The spokesperson clarified that, at this stage, these specific allegations have not been officially reported to the force by either the lawyer or the client herself, but the assessment process is underway based on the public claims.
Connection to Broader Epstein Case
This claim positions the woman as the second alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein, following abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre, to state she was trafficked specifically to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Attorney Brad Edwards asserted: "We’re talking about at least one woman who was sent by Jeffrey Epstein over to Prince Andrew. And she even had, after a night with Prince Andrew, a tour of Buckingham Palace."
Documentary Evidence and Historical Context
The allegations emerge amidst a tranche of documents recently released by the US Department of Justice, which feature Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on multiple occasions. These documents include images apparently showing him crouching over an unidentified woman in what appears to be Epstein's New York mansion. The released files also contain email exchanges involving Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and Epstein, with discussions ranging from invitations to Buckingham Palace to suggestive remarks.
In one exchange, Epstein appears to introduce Andrew to a woman described as "26, Russian, clevere (sic) beautiful, trustworthy". In the same month, Andrew is quoted as apparently telling Epstein: "Wish I was still a pet in your family." Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently and vehemently denied any wrongdoing in relation to his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
Recent Legal and Royal History
This development follows a significant legal settlement in 2022, where the former Duke of York paid millions of pounds to Virginia Giuffre in a settlement that included no admission of liability. Andrew has stated he has no recollection of meeting Giuffre. Subsequently, in 2023, he was stripped of his royal titles by King Charles III following the posthumous publication of a book by Giuffre, which detailed her allegations of being trafficked by Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell when she was a teenager.
The ongoing police assessment underscores the persistent legal and reputational challenges surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's past connections, as authorities continue to scrutinise historical allegations linked to the international Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
