Andrew Lownie—author of a bestselling biography of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—sent new material about the former prince to Britain’s National Crime Agency and told Newsweek he is concerned that “no one’s come forward” to speak to him.
Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his prince titles in October over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and allegations from Virginia Giuffre, who sued the royal in 2021.
Giuffre said she was trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to London, New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2001 and made to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor, who has always denied the allegations. He settled Giuffre’s lawsuit, in which he was accused of rape, in 2022 for an undisclosed sum without admitting liability. Giuffre died in April after what her family described as a suicide.
Andrew Lownie’s Report to the National Crime Agency
Lownie’s book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, caused a wave of news stories about Mountbatten-Windsor’s relationship with Epstein, his time as a U.K. trade envoy and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson’s lavish spending habits, among other subjects. The book was published in August.
Not everything he uncovered made it into the final version, however, for legal reasons. It is commonplace for lawyers to request changes to books about high-profile public figures and Epstein is a particularly sensitive subject.
Lownie took the unused material to Britain’s National Crime Agency, a law enforcement unit that targets serious organized crime.
Lownie told Newsweek: “I’ve also offered my material to the National Crime Agency about some of his [Mountbatten-Windsor’s] activities as special trade envoy for stuff we couldn’t put in the book for legal reasons and no one’s come forward. I don’t know who to go to. It doesn’t sound like they’re very enthusiastic about going there.”
Newsweek has approached the National Crime Agency for comment.
Metropolitan Police Declines to Investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
On Saturday, the Metropolitan Police announced it will not be investigating reports in The Mail on Sunday about an email Mountbatten-Windsor sent to a Buckingham Palace press officer in 2011 the day before Giuffre’s first newspaper interview was published.
The former prince’s message read: “It would also seem she [Virginia Giuffre] has a criminal record in the States. I have given her DoB [date of birth] and social security number for investigation with [redacted], the on duty ppo [personal protection officer].”
Some had argued the request amounted to the criminal offense of misconduct in a public office and that Mountbatten-Windsor should face a full criminal investigation. The Met initially said in October, when the email was first published, they were “actively looking into” the reports.
However, on Saturday Ella Marriott, central specialist crime commander with the Metropolitan Police, said in a statement: “Following recent reporting suggesting that Mr. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked his Met Police close protection officer to carry out checks on Ms. Giuffre in 2011, the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] has carried out a further assessment. This assessment has not revealed any additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct.”
A Police Officer ‘Had His Knuckles Rapped’
“I think it’s pretty clear cut…” Lownie said. “…To just dismiss it so quickly is pretty shocking. I mean, they’re not even going through the motions and I think all along we felt that he’s [Andrew] been protected.
“I’ve been on the record saying I thought he was toast because I thought they would do stuff. So I’m pretty shocked by this. I can’t say too much more, but I know that one policeman who has spoken up is under a lot of pressure now and being sent cease-and-desist letters by his bosses not to speak out because he could kind of nail this.
“I certainly know that one policeman who has spoken out has now had his knuckles rapped because I think they’re worried because he could kind of prove it.”
Newsweek has approached the Metropolitan Police for comment.
The Crown Prosecution Service, Britain’s prosecuting authority, offers an explanation of misconduct in a public office on its website: “The offense concerns serious willful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held.
“There must be a direct link between the misconduct and an abuse of those powers or responsibilities. The Court of Appeal has made it clear that the offense should be strictly confined, and it can raise complex and sometimes sensitive issues.”
Dai Davies, a former head of royalty protection at the Metropolitan Police, told The Mail on Sunday in October: “It is time for Scotland Yard to launch a full criminal investigation into Prince Andrew.
“Asking a police officer to investigate an alleged victim is outside of their duties, whether that is calling the FBI, your mates in the U.S., or searching out themselves to find out whether someone has a criminal offense. That is, in my view, a criminal offense.
“Asking a public servant, that includes anyone from the Palace or police, to commit those inquiries is inciting them, aiding and abetting them to commit misconduct in public office. It should be investigated and he should be interviewed under caution.”
The Metropolitan Police Statement in Full
Ella Marriott, the Met’s central specialist crime commander, said in a statement: “Our thoughts will always be with Ms. Giuffre’s family and friends following her death.
“In 2015, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) received allegations relating to non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. These allegations primarily concerned events outside the United Kingdom, with one allegation of trafficking to central London in March 2001.
“Officers assessed all available evidence at the time, interviewed the complainant, Ms. Virginia Giuffre, as well as contacting several other potential victims. This did not result in any allegation of criminal conduct against any U.K.-based nationals. The MPS sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and liaised with United States authorities, who were leading investigations into related matters involving U.S. nationals.
“Following this legal advice, it was clear that any investigation into human trafficking would be largely focused on activities outside the U.K. and perpetrators based overseas. Officers therefore concluded, in consultation with the CPS, that other international authorities were best placed to progress these allegations.
“Officers maintained close liaison with the United States and other relevant authorities throughout their investigation to ensure any U.K. matters could be identified and to consider any support requested.
“A decision was made in November 2016 not to proceed to a full criminal investigation. That decision was reviewed in August 2019 and again in 2021 and 2022; in each instance, the position remained unchanged, and Ms. Giuffre and her legal representative were informed.
“Following recent reporting suggesting that Mr. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked his Met Police close protection officer to carry out checks on Ms. Giuffre in 2011, the MPS has carried out a further assessment. This assessment has not revealed any additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct.
“The Met remains committed to thoroughly assessing any new information that could assist in this matter. To date, we have not received any additional evidence that would support reopening the investigation. In the absence of any further information, we will be taking no further action. As with any other matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention, including in any information resulting from the release of material in the U.S., we will assess it.”
Read the full article here
