Police probe claims Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ‘shared confidential information from his role as UK’s trade envoy with Jeffrey Epstein’

Police were today investigating allegations that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential reports from his role as the UK’s trade envoy with Jeffrey Epstein.

Emails released by the US Department of Justice on January 30 appear to show the former duke sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore.

One email, dated November 2010, was forwarded by Andrew just five minutes after being sent by his then-special advisor, Amit Patel. The former duke made the visits in his capacity as trade envoy in late 2010, conducting meetings and trade talks.

Additionally, on Christmas Eve 2010, Andrew looped Epstein in on a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Today, a Thames Valley Police spokesman told the Daily Mail: ‘We can confirm receipt of this report and are assessing the information in line with our established procedures.’ 

Andrew could now face prosecution after Graham Smith, chief executive of anti-monarchy group Republic, reported him to the force which polices the Windsor area. 

Mr Smith tweeted today: ‘I have now reported Andrew to the @ThamesVP for suspected misconduct in public office and breach of official secrets in relation to these specific allegations. I cannot see any significant difference between these allegations and those against Peter Mandelson.’

Andrew could technically be criminally prosecuted, given the King is the only member of the Royal Family who has sovereign immunity. In 2002, Princess Anne became the first Royal Family member to be convicted of a criminal offence when she was fined £500 after one of her dogs bit two children in Windsor Great Park.

Mr Smith later told the Daily Mail that ‘past experience’ of previous complaints he has made would suggest police will take no action in this case, but added: ‘We’re getting into unprecedented territory. This lack of action is becoming unsustainable. We’ll have to wait and see.’

The email from the files appears to show Andrew forwarded on reports from his trade envoy trips to Epstein five minutes after he got them from his then-special adviser, Amit Patel

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor rides a horse in Windsor Great Park near Royal Lodge last week

Melania Trump, Andrew, Gwendolyn Beck and Jeffrey Epstein at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in 2000

He cited how detectives launched an investigation into Peter Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office last week, adding that the case had ‘thrown a spotlight onto this lack of action’ by the Royal Family and there was now a ‘very clear blueprint’.

Mr Smith also said he believed heckling of Royal Family members over the Epstein case was ‘going to carry on’ because ‘people are not happy’ – and this could force the royals into further action because they do ‘not like that challenging in their face’.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan also said on X: ‘After today’s revelations that Andrew leaked confidential trade envoy secrets to Epstein, King Charles should order him to be interviewed by UK police about that, and by US investigators about wider Epstein scandal. If Andrew refuses, banish him.’

Andrew has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

The messages were sent after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Andrew previously told BBC’s Newsnight in 2019 he had cut off contact with the convicted paedophile in December 2010 during a visit to New York.

On February 9, 2011, Andrew told Epstein he had visited a private equity firm the week before and ‘thought of you’ as the financier was reportedly ‘looking for somewhere for money to go’.

Official government guidance underscores that the role of a trade envoy carries a duty of confidentiality regarding sensitive information.

‘This may include sensitive, commercial, or political information shared about relevant markets/visits,’ the guidance read.

Graham Smith (pictured in 2023), chief executive of anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, has reported Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to Thames Valley Police

King Charles III leaves Clitheroe railway station in Lancashire today to meet well-wishers

Andrew and Charles at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral last September

‘This duty of confidentiality will continue to apply after the expiry of their term of office. In addition, the Official Secrets Acts 1911 and 1989 will apply.’

The former duke served as the UK’s special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.

Vince Cable, business secretary at the time, told the BBC of the emails: ‘I was unaware of Andrew… sharing information about investment opportunities [in Afghanistan] before, this is the first I’ve heard of it.’ 

The former duke features a number of times in the latest release of documents, including images apparently showing him crouching over an unidentified woman in what appears to be Epstein’s New York mansion.

In 2022, the former duke paid millions of pounds to Virginia Giuffre, his main accuser, despite claiming never to have met her.

The King later stripped him of his titles following the posthumous release of a book by Ms Giuffre, who alleges she was trafficked by Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, at the age of 17.

Andrew moved out of Royal Lodge and relocated to Norfolk to a property on the King’s Sandringham estate earlier this month, reported to be Wood Farm Cottage, where he will stay temporarily.

It is understood the former duke’s new home of Marsh Farm is not yet fully ready, but he is expected to move in by the start of April.

Andrew still has the lease for his Windsor property until October, but it is understood he has made the substantive part of his move to his new home.

A photo of Jeffrey Epstein which was in the latest files from the US Department of Justice

However, it may take some weeks to complete and the former prince is likely to be seen at Royal Lodge on occasion. 

Meanwhile, Kensington Palace said today that the Prince and Princess of Wales have been ‘deeply concerned’ by the ongoing revelations from the Epstein scandal involving Andrew.

It is the first time the views of William and Kate have been known about the crisis that has engulfed the monarchy and Westminster, and their thoughts ‘remain focused on the victims’.

The prince is en route to Saudi Arabia for the start of a three-day tour of the Middle East country, spending his first day with the Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Ahead of the visit, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: ‘I can confirm that the Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continued revelations.

‘Their thoughts remain focused on the victims.’

Much of the work of the royal family in recent weeks has been overshadowed by the ongoing Epstein scandal, reignited when a huge tranche of millions of documents associated with Epstein were released by US authorities.

These sparked a string of allegations against William’s uncle and have led to police launching an investigation into Peter Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office.