PRINCE Andrew recruited the Metropolitan Police for an attempted smear campaign against his sex-abuse accuser, reports say.
A damning email claims Andrew reportedly asked one of his taxpayer-funded bodyguards to dig up information on Virginia Giuffre.
Andrew got hold of Virginia’s date of birth and private social security number, and passed them on to one of his personal protection officers, reports The Mail on Sunday.
The Prince then brazenly told Ed Perkins – Queen Elizabeth’s deputy press secretary at the time – about his covert snooping in an email.
All this was just hours before the infamous picture of Andrew with his hand round a 17-year-old Virginia’s waist went public.
In the email to Perkins, Andrew reportedly wrote: “It would also seem she has a criminal record in the [United] States.
read more on the andrew saga
“I have given her DoB [date of birth] and social security number for investigation with XXX, the on duty ppo [personal protection officer].”
There’s no suggestion that the officer completed Andrew’s request, and Virginia’s family say she did not have a criminal record.
Relatives said the email “exposes the lengths to which those implicated try to discredit and defame survivors”.
“The truth will surface and there will be no shadows in which they can hide,” they added.
The family said: “These outrageous emails are further vindication of Virginia. It underscores her courage and her strength as a truth teller.”
No explanation has been given for how Andrew was able to obtain Virginia’s social security number.
Solicitor Mark Stephens told the Mail there were “reasons to investigate whether a criminal conspiracy has occurred” in light of the email.
The latest revelations come 24 hours after the King pressed Prince Andrew to give up using his Duke of York title and his role as a member of the Order of the Garter – the UK’s most historic honour of chivalry.
It came after The Sun on Sunday proved he lied about the date he severed contact with paedo Epstein.
Andrew emailed Epstein: “We are in this together,” three months after the date he said he had cut contact.
All the titles Andrew is giving up
Andrew is giving up all his titles after discussions with the King and wider Royal Family.
They are:
- Duke of York
- Earl of Inverness
- Barony Killyleagh
He has also agreed not to use the honours given to him as a Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter.
He will now just be called Prince Andrew.
The bombshell message sent on February 28, 2011, proves Andrew, 65, lied when he told BBC Newsnight he ceased contact with the financier three months earlier, in December 2010.
It is understood William, Prince of Wales, was also closely involved with giving Andrew his marching orders from the Royal Family, and is happy with the outcome.
Last night, Andrew Lownie, the Prince’s biographer, warned there was more scandal to come.
He said: “This is just the tip of the iceberg.
“I think the palace is worried about new allegations that will emerge Stateside, they know there is more damaging stuff to come.”
Virginia’s family released a statement last night saying: “This moment serves as victory for Virginia, who consistently maintained: ‘He knows what happened, I know what happened, and there’s only one of us telling the truth, and I know that’s me.’”
In her book Nobody’s Girl – due to be published on Tuesday, after her death in April – Virginia talked about living with an “emotional time bomb” over her ordeal at the hands of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew.
She said she suffered recurring nightmares and flashbacks of “disturbing images”, including “greedy, heaving men”.
The book also claims she was “gagged” by Andrew to avoid ruining the late Queen’s platinum jubilee.
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her platinum jubilee in 2022, and the civil case – gathering pace – was swiftly settled just nine days later.
In another particularly disturbing episode, the book claims Andrew correctly guessed Virginia’s age during one of their meeting,
“My daughters are just a little younger than you,” he is said to have explained.
Sources close to Charles last night said he was “glad” his brother had stepped aside as the waves of scandals engulfing him became an “unwelcome distraction”.
Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were given their titles Duke and Duchess of York on their wedding day in 1986.
Sarah will also drop her Duchess title, it has been confirmed.
Andrew remains Duke of York, but will stop using the title.
