Met is not going to examine claims in opposition to Andrew regarding Virginia Giuffre | Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is not going to be the topic of a legal investigation in Britain over allegations he had intercourse in London with a youngster who was trafficked, after which put strain on his police safety officer to dig up dust on her.

The Metropolitan police on Saturday stated after weeks of evaluate, it might not launch any formal legal investigation into King Charles’s brother. Mountbatten-Windsor’s ties to the convicted little one intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein led to the stripping of his royal standing.

His alleged sufferer, Virginia Giuffre, claimed in a 2021 US lawsuit that Andrew had intercourse together with her after she had been trafficked by Epstein at a house in Belgravia, London, in 2001 when she was 17.

In a US lawsuit she stated she was “lent out for sexual functions” to the then Duke of York in London, and on two different events exterior the UK.

Mountbatten-Windsor, 65, has all the time denied that declare and every other wrongdoing, and maintained his place when he paid cash to settle the lawsuit in 2022.

It’s understood on a number of the former prince’s conferences with Epstein, a Met safety officer accompanied him, as he was entitled to police safety given his royal standing.

On Saturday, the Met stated no allegation in opposition to Mountbatten-Windsor could be the topic of any formal legal investigation within the UK. That features claims he requested his Met police safety officer to research Giuffre in 2011, after she had gone public together with her claims in opposition to him.

Any Met legal investigation would have concerned the king’s brother being interviewed below legal warning, if not arrested. The Met’s resolution was reached with out chatting with the previous prince.

In a brand new assertion, Met commander Ella Marriott stated after weeks of the Met contemplating whether or not to launch a legal investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor, it had determined to face by its earlier resolution.

Marriott stated: “In 2015, the Metropolitan police service (MPS) acquired allegations regarding non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

“These allegations primarily involved occasions exterior the UK, with one allegation of trafficking to central London in March 2001.

“Officers assessed all out there proof on the time, interviewed the complainant, Ms Virginia Giuffre in addition to contacting a number of different potential victims. This didn’t lead to any allegation of legal conduct in opposition to any UK-based nationals.

“The MPS sought recommendation from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and liaised with US authorities, who have been main investigations into associated issues involving US nationals. Following this authorized recommendation, it was clear that any investigation into human trafficking could be largely centered on actions exterior the UK and perpetrators based mostly abroad.

“Officers subsequently concluded, in session with the CPS, that different worldwide authorities have been greatest positioned to progress these allegations.

“Officers maintained shut liaison with the US and different related authorities all through their investigation to make sure any UK issues might be recognized and to contemplate any assist requested.

“A call was made in November 2016 to not proceed to a full legal investigation. That call was reviewed in August 2019 and once more in 2021 and 2022; in every occasion, the place remained unchanged, and Ms Giuffre and her authorized consultant have been knowledgeable.”

The Met additionally stated there could be no legal investigation into claims Mountbatten-Windsor tried to get his police safety officers to smear his accuser.

It’s understood not one of the safety officers at the moment, who’ve been spoken to by Met investigators, supported claims that Mountbatten-Windsor requested them to search out materials which may undermine Giuffre.

Detectives examined the Met’s data relationship again greater than a decade to see if any officer looked for materials on Giuffre. Some data not existed.

In October, the Mail on Sunday claimed an e mail confirmed Mountbatten-Windsor handed Giuffre’s date of delivery and social safety quantity to his bodyguard in 2011 and requested him to dig up dust to smear his accuser.

On Saturday Marriott stated: “This evaluation has not revealed any extra proof of legal acts or misconduct.

“Within the absence of any additional info, we shall be taking no additional motion. As with every different matter, ought to new and related info be delivered to our consideration, together with in any info ensuing from the discharge of fabric within the US, we are going to assess it.”

A former senior prosecutor stated there might be sufficient motive to criminally examine Mountbatten-Windsor for his alleged sexual assault on Giuffre.

Nick Vamos, the previous head of particular crime on the CPS, stated: “If Ms Giuffre didn’t consent to intercourse, and Andrew didn’t moderately consider that she consented to intercourse, then it might be rape. If it might be proved that Andrew knew that Giuffre had been trafficked then that may be compelling proof that he couldn’t have moderately believed that Giuffre had the liberty to decide on whether or not to consent.”

Giuffre is now useless, however her New York lawsuit stated the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell recruited her for Epstein’s intercourse trafficking enterprise. Maxwell is in a US jail.

In her 2021 civil lawsuit introduced in opposition to the previous prince within the southern district of New York, Giuffre stated: “Prince Andrew dedicated sexual assault and battery upon plaintiff when she was 17 years previous. As such, Prince Andrew is accountable for battery and intentional infliction of emotional misery pursuant to New York widespread regulation. The harm to plaintiff has been extreme and lasting.

“Prince Andrew abused plaintiff on separate events when she was below the age of 18 years previous. On one event, Prince Andrew sexually abused plaintiff in London at Maxwell’s house. Throughout this encounter, Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew pressured plaintiff, a toddler, to have sexual activity with Prince Andrew in opposition to her will.”

Giuffre additionally alleged the previous prince had intercourse together with her on two different events exterior the UK. Giuffre’s sworn assertion stated: “Throughout every of the aforementioned incidents, plaintiff was compelled by specific or implied threats by Epstein, Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew to have interaction in sexual acts with Prince Andrew, and feared loss of life or bodily damage to herself or one other and different repercussions for disobeying Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew resulting from their highly effective connections, wealth, and authority.

“Prince Andrew engaged in every of the aforementioned sexual acts with plaintiff at Epstein and Maxwell’s invitation, understanding that she was a sex-trafficking sufferer being pressured to have interaction in sexual acts with him.

“Throughout every of the aforementioned incidents, plaintiff didn’t consent to participating in sexual acts with Prince Andrew. Throughout every of the aforementioned incidents, Prince Andrew sexually abused plaintiff for the aim of gratifying his sexual wishes.”

Vamos stated Giuffre’s guide printed posthumously this yr couldn’t be used as proof, however her testimony for the New York lawsuit might be: “A sworn assertion she had made up to now might be admissible corresponding to her assertion within the New York lawsuit. The guide would in all probability not be.”

“You would need to show that she didn’t consent, had been trafficked, and Andrew knew that and thus couldn’t moderately consider she had freely consented.”

Mountbatten-Windsor has all the time denied Giuffre’s declare and every other wrongdoing.