Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
King Charles has intervened for the first time in the latest Epstein-related revelations, with Buckingham Palace saying it is ready to support police as allegations involving his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are assessed.
“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,” a palace spokesperson said, adding that responsibility for addressing the claims rests with Andrew.
Emails raise questions over confidential disclosures
The latest batch of Epstein-related files released in the United States includes emails that appear to show Andrew forwarding official British trade reports in 2010, years after Epstein’s conviction for child sex offences.
The documents suggest reports from official visits to Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shenzhen were shared shortly after Andrew received them in his role as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.
A separate exchange from December 2010 also appears to show a confidential briefing on investment opportunities linked to reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan being shared with Epstein.
Trade envoys are normally bound by strict confidentiality rules covering sensitive political, commercial and government information.
Andrew, the 65-year-old second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has not commented publicly since the latest document release.
Police assess whether to launch investigation
Thames Valley Police confirmed it is assessing whether there are grounds to formally investigate the matter after receiving a complaint alleging misconduct in public office and breaches of official secrets.
Police said the material is being reviewed in line with standard procedures and stressed that no offence has been established at this stage.
Royal family distances itself amid public pressure
Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen’s “thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.”
Meanwhile, Kensington Palace separately said the Prince and Princess of Wales were “deeply concerned” by the continuing Epstein revelations, reiterating that their focus remains on victims.
Public pressure has also intensified. During a recent visit to Clitheroe in northern England, King Charles was heckled by a member of the crowd over his knowledge of his brother’s links to Epstein.
Wider fallout from Epstein files
Andrew was forced to step back from royal duties in 2019 after his association with Epstein came under intense scrutiny. In 2022, he reached a civil settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who had accused Epstein of trafficking her to him when she was 17. The settlement included no admission of liability.
He was stripped of his princely title in October 2025 and was moved from his royal residence last week.
The renewed scrutiny follows the ongoing release of Epstein-related records by the U.S. Justice Department, which has prompted fresh reviews of Epstein’s international contacts and political connections.
Epstein, arrested in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges, died in custody later that year. His associate Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of trafficking underage girls and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The continued disclosure of documents has led to new investigations and political pressure across multiple jurisdictions, underscoring the lasting global repercussions of the case.
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