The King will “stand ready to support” a police investigation into allegations against his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Buckingham Palace confirmed tonight.
In a statement, a spokesman for the monarch said he had expressed his “profound concern” over the onslaught of new revelations about the former Duke of York which have emerged from the Epstein files.
It read: “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct.
“While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect.
“As was previously stated, Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.”
Thames Valley Police had earlier confirmed it was assessing claims that Andrew had shared secret reports from his UK trade envoy role with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The force has not yet approached Buckingham Palace for assistance, so the decision for the King to pre-empt any request from them shows how seriously the monarch is taking the latest developments.
© Getty ImagesHis comments came hours after a spokesman for the Prince and Princess of Wales shared how they too had been “deeply concerned” by the “continued revelations” and expressed sympathy with those impacted by Epstein’s crimes, saying their “thoughts remain focused on the victims.”
The King’s unprecedented statement came shortly after his son and heir Prince William sat down for a formal audience with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the first day of his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Last October, the King stripped his brother of his royal titles and privileges and left him with no choice but to leave Royal Lodge, which had been his home on the Windsor Estate since 2004. He is now living in exile on the Sandringham Estate
Among the latest allegations to emerge from the dump of millions of documents relating to Epstein by the US authorities are claims that he sent a second woman to the UK for a sexual encounter with Andrew and that he asked the former Duke and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson to give friends of his access to Buckingham Palace while on trips to London.
Andrew has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing. In his infamous 2021 Newsnight interview, he told Emily Maitlis he had ended his friendship with Epstein during a four-day visit to New York in 2010.
But the files released by the US Department of Justice show that he remained in contact with him for much longer and the “goodbye” trip itself actually lasted for nine days.
More to follow.
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