Authorities are reaching out to Andrew's current and former protection officers
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- The Metropolitan Police are speaking to ex-Prince Andrew’s current and former protection officers following the latest release of files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein
- In the same statement, authorities also announced a separate update, saying they are “aware of the suggestion that London airports may have been used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation”
- Andrew’s ties to Epstein set his step back from public life in motion in 2019, and he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Feb. 19
British police are speaking to the former Prince Andrew's past and present protection officers following the latest release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
In addition, the Metropolitan Police announced on Feb. 20 in the same statement that they were "aware of the suggestion that London airports may have been used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation."
"We are assessing this information and are actively seeking further detail from law enforcement partners, including those in the United States," they continued.
"Separately, the Met is identifying and contacting former and serving officers who may have worked closely, in a protection capacity, with Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor. They have been asked to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during that period of service may be relevant to our ongoing reviews and to share any information that could assist us," they said.
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Authorities underscored that "no new criminal allegations have been made to the Met regarding sexual offenses said to have occurred within our jurisdiction" and urged anyone with information to come forward.
The Met Police statement referenced the tranche of files released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Jan. 30, featuring over three million files relating to the investigation of Epstein. The American financier and convicted sex offender died while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges in August 2019.
Andrew's ties with Epstein set his step back from public life in motion in November 2019. He has continuously denied any wrongdoing in relation to their relationship.
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On Feb. 19, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and detained at his current home in Sandringham. He was arrested as authorities investigated a claim that he shared confidential information with Epstein while serving as a trade envoy for the U.K., a position he was in from 2001 to 2011. The former Duke of York was released after spending about 11 hours in custody.
In an updated statement, the Thames Valley Police said it wrapped its searches in Norfolk, where Andrew is currently living, while its probe in Berkshire, where his longtime Royal Lodge residence is, continues.
King Charles stripped Andrew's royal titles in October 2025 amid renewed scrutiny around the depth of his connections to Epstein, and the Met Police statement referred to Andrew by the name he is now known by, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
PEOPLE understands that Buckingham Palace was unaware of Andrew’s arrest in advance, and the King released a statement soon after, pledging that the palace would cooperate with police in the investigation.
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