U.K. Police Drop Investigations Into Prince Andrew, Ghislaine Maxwell And Jeffrey Epstein...

Topline

London’s Metropolitan Police will take “no further action” over allegations involving Queen Elizabeth II’s son, Prince Andrew, late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and socialite Ghislaine Maxwell after accusations of sexual abuse made in a civil suit by Virginia Giuffre prompted the force to review its files, though the British royal still faces a civil suit from Giuffre in the U.S.

Prince Andrew has been accused of sexual abuse in a suit by Giuffre.

Getty Images

Key Facts

The Metropolitan Police said Sunday it is taking no further action against the Queen’s son after finishing its review material on the matter, including a document released in August 2021 as part of a U.S. civil action, according to multiple news outlets.

Giuffre’s U.S. civil suit makes numerous allegations of sexual assault against Prince Andrew when she was 17, allegations he has denied.

Dame Cressida Dick, the force’s commissioner, vowed to review the case in light of Giuffre’s lawsuit in August, stressing “no one is above the law.”

Dick said the force had also finished reviews into the late Epstein and his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell—who is being held in U.S. custody on sex trafficking charges—and no further action would be taken in either case.

Both reviews were also prompted by Giuffre’s suit.

The force said it will continue to cooperate with other law enforcement agencies investigating Epstein.

What We Don’t Know

The Sunday Times reported that Metropolitan Police officers spoke to Giuffre, though did not disclose what was discussed or whether this was a formal statement.

Key Background

Giuffre first accused Prince Andrew of sexual abuse in 2015, connecting the royal to Epstein and Maxwell. The Met has examined Giuffre’s allegations against the Prince at least twice since 2015 but never opened an investigation, reportedly claiming it to be outside its jurisdiction. Prince Andrew stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after stoking widespread public outrage over his supposed friendship with Epstein. In a disastrous BBC interview, the royal claimed he could not have assaulted Giuffre on that night as he was at home after attending a children’s party at Pizza Express and tried to cast doubt on Giuffre’s testimony by claiming he could not sweat.