King Charles III said he will support a police inquiry into allegations that his brother, the former Prince Andrew, shared confidential trade information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Buckingham Palace announced.
The statement from the palace came after Thames Valley Police said they were assessing reports that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sent trade reports to Epstein in 2010. The police department serves an area that includes Windsor, where the former prince previously resided at Royal Lodge.
“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,” the palace said in a statement.
“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.”
The inquiry stems from revelations contained in over 3 million pages of documents released by the U.S. Justice Department from its investigation into Epstein. Correspondence appears to show that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared his itinerary for a Southeast Asia tour with Epstein and later sent him copies of tour reports from the trip.
The former prince undertook the tour in 2010 as Britain’s envoy for international trade, visiting Hanoi, Saigon, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong during the two-week trip.
Thames Valley Police confirmed they received a report and are assessing the information according to established procedures. Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, filed the complaint alleging suspected abuse of public office and violations of Britain’s Official Secrets Act.
Smith, whose organization seeks to replace the king with an elected head of state, drew comparisons to Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the U.S., who faces a similar police investigation over alleged sharing of sensitive information with Epstein revealed in the Justice Department documents.
The palace also addressed another allegation under police assessment. On February 1, a U.S.-based attorney said he represented a woman who alleges Epstein flew her to Britain to have sex with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Royal Lodge in 2010.
Prince William and Princess Catherine issued their first public statement about the Epstein revelations as the scandal continued to engulf the royal family. A spokesperson confirmed the couple has been deeply concerned by the continued revelations, with their thoughts remaining focused on the victims.
The palace reiterated the concern of King Charles and Queen Camilla for Epstein’s abuse victims, stating that their thoughts and sympathies have been and remain with victims of any and all forms of abuse.
The royal family’s vulnerability to the scandal became evident when Charles visited Lancashire. While most of the crowd clapped, cheered and waved flags, someone shouted at the king asking how long he knew about Andrew.
Concerns about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein have plagued the royal family for more than a decade. Many of the email exchanges between Epstein and the former prince took place after the financier was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008.
Queen Elizabeth II forced her second son to give up royal duties in 2019 after he attempted to explain his friendship with Epstein during a catastrophic interview with the BBC. The late queen’s decision came as public outrage mounted over his continued association with Epstein despite the conviction.
King Charles has taken unprecedented steps to distance the monarchy from his brother. He stripped Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of the right to be called a prince and forced him to move out of Royal Lodge.
Last week, the king accelerated Andrew’s departure from the royal residence near Windsor Castle, forcing him to leave months ahead of schedule. The move came amid growing anger that the former prince continued reaping rewards from his royal status despite no longer being a working member of the royal family.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is now living on the king’s Sandringham estate. He will temporarily reside at Wood Farm Cottage.
The Justice Department’s document release represents one of the largest disclosures of investigative materials in recent memory. The files reveal extensive details about Epstein’s network of relationships with wealthy and powerful individuals across multiple continents.
The royal family has weathered numerous scandals throughout its history, but the Epstein allegations present unique challenges. The ongoing release of documents means new revelations could continue emerging for months, keeping the scandal in public view.
King Charles’s willingness to support the police inquiry marks a significant departure from traditional royal protocol, which historically emphasized protecting family members from public scrutiny. His statement signals an attempt to prioritize institutional credibility over family loyalty.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s fall from prominence represents one of the most dramatic reversals in modern royal history. Once a working royal who represented Britain on the international stage, he now faces potential criminal investigation while living in relative isolation on his brother’s private estate.