Met Police decline criminal probe into report Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked bodyguard to dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre
The Metropolitan Police will not launch a criminal investigation into reports that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked a taxpayer-funded bodyguard to obtain personal information about Virginia Giuffre, the woman who has accused him of sexual abuse, a senior officer said.
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Central Specialist Crime Commander Ella Marriott said the force has completed an assessment of the claims, which were reported in October by the Mail on Sunday. The newspaper alleged the former Duke of York — brother of Britain’s King Charles — passed Giuffre’s date of birth and Social Security number to his Metropolitan Police close protection officer in 2011 and asked him to investigate as part of a smear campaign against his accuser.
“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,” Marriott said.
She added that the Metropolitan Police Service remains “committed to thoroughly assessing any new information that could assist in this matter.”
The force said it has not received additional evidence that would support reopening an investigation into the alleged request. “In the absence of any further information, we will be taking no further action,” Marriott said, while noting the Met would review “new and relevant information” if it emerges, “including in any information resulting from the release of material in the U.S.”
The decision effectively pauses, but does not close, the door on the question of whether the use of a publicly funded protection officer could have been misapplied. The allegation centers on whether a government-provided close protection officer was asked to conduct checks on a private citizen using personal identifiers reportedly supplied by Andrew in 2011.
The Met’s statement underscores a familiar threshold for law enforcement: without corroborating material, the claims as reported are insufficient to trigger a criminal inquiry. Investigators frequently revisit assessments if new documentation, testimony or official releases surface that shed fresh light on the events in question.
The claims resurfaced amid renewed public scrutiny of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s past ties and of Giuffre’s account, which has been the subject of continued media coverage. The Met’s reference to potential U.S. material suggests the force is mindful of disclosures that could arise from American proceedings or publications and is leaving room to pivot if any such information proves relevant.
The Mail on Sunday’s October report alleged that the 2011 request formed part of an effort to discredit Giuffre. While the Met has now assessed those claims, the force emphasized its willingness to review any verifiable new information shared by individuals, media organizations or U.S. authorities.
For now, the police stance is clear: no criminal investigation will proceed in the absence of fresh evidence. Any subsequent release of material in the United States — or any other credible submission — could alter that assessment if it provides a basis for further action.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
