FBI Investigation into Prince Andrew's Alleged Conduct During Royal Tour Revealed
Newly disclosed court documents have shed light on an FBI investigation into Prince Andrew, Duke of York, over allegations that he sought young women for sexual purposes during an official royal tour. The investigation centered on emails exchanged between the prince and Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted accomplice of the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Emails Used as Evidence in Epstein Case
The FBI reportedly utilized correspondence between Maxwell and an individual identified as "Individual-5" in a 2020 court application. This application sought permission to examine electronic devices seized from Epstein's residence in 2019. According to the documents, one email from Individual-5 to Maxwell inquired, "Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?"
An FBI agent involved in the case stated in the application, "I believe that Individual-5 was asking whether Maxwell had found any young females to engage in sex acts with Individual-5." This communication appears to align with a previously released email from the Epstein files, sent from Balmoral and signed with the initial "A," which made a similar request for "inappropriate friends."
Allegations Linked to 2002 Peru Visit
The investigation specifically probed Prince Andrew's connections during a taxpayer-funded royal visit to Peru in 2002, which was part of the late Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee celebrations. Another email presented to the court, sent just days before this trip, showed Individual-5 writing, "As for the girls well I leave that entirely to you and [another individual]!"
The FBI agent interpreted this message, stating, "Based on my training, experience, and participation in this investigation, I believe that in this email Individual-5 was discussing MAXWELL's attempts to arrange for young females to engage in sex acts with Individual-5." This email coincides with another from the Epstein files, attributed to "The Invisible Man"—believed to be Prince Andrew—which expressed, "I am overwhelmed at the kindness and generosity of the offers that are being made for me. I would love to do them all but fear that there would not be enough time!" and added, "As for girls well I leave that entirely to you and Juan Estoban!" signed with "Masses of love A xxx."
Ongoing Scrutiny and Lack of Cooperation
Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to these allegations. However, he has declined requests from United States authorities to provide testimony regarding his associations with Epstein and Maxwell. The former royal has not traveled to the US for several years, further complicating any potential legal proceedings.
In November 2025, Democrats in the US Congress escalated the matter by sending a formal letter to Prince Andrew, urging him to participate in their investigation into Epstein's criminal network. The letter emphasized, "The committee is seeking to uncover the identities of Mr Epstein's co-conspirators and enablers and to understand the full extent of his criminal operations. Well-documented allegations against you, along with your long-standing friendship with Mr Epstein, indicate that you may possess knowledge of his activities relevant to our investigation."
It continued, "In the interest of justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, we request that you co-operate with the committee's investigation by sitting for a transcribed interview with the committee." According to the committee, Prince Andrew failed to respond to this request, maintaining his stance of non-involvement while the allegations continue to cast a shadow over his public life.
