The palace is ready to help British police with any inquiries into the King’s brother Andrew

By Michael Holden

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) – Buckingham Palace said on Monday it was ready to support any police investigation into King Charles’ younger brother after emails emerged that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may have shared confidential British business documents with Jeffrey Epstein.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who has fallen out of the royal inner circle because of her close relationship with Epstein, is facing fresh scrutiny following the recent publication of millions of new documents related to the convicted US sex offender.

“The King has made clear in words and through unprecedented actions his deep concern about the allegations coming to light about Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” a palace spokesman said.

The royal family is set to withdraw Andrew’s investigation

In recent files released in the US, emails suggest he shared official British business documents with Epstein in 2010, after Epstein was convicted of child sex crimes, leaking information from his role as an official government emissary.

The documents appear to show that Andrew sent reports about Vietnam, Singapore and other places that were sent to him in the course of official travel.

Business envoys are generally prohibited from sharing sensitive or commercial documents. The 65-year-old second son of the late Queen Elizabeth has always denied any wrongdoing and has not responded to requests for comment since the latest release of the Epstein files.

Thames Valley Police said the case had been reported to them and they were assessing whether to formally investigate.

The palace added: “The specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are contacted by Thames Valley Police, we are prepared to support them as you would expect…

“As before stated, their majesties’ consideration and sympathy have been, and remain, victims of any and all forms of abuse.”

The king’s son, Prince William, and his wife, Kate, said on Monday they were deeply troubled by the continuing Epstein revelations in another pointed message from the royal family.

“Their thoughts are with the victims,” ​​their spokesman told reporters ahead of the prince’s arrival on a high-profile trip to Saudi Arabia.

Andrew and Epstein became an embarrassment to King and the royal family

Mountbatten-Windsor was forced to step down from all official royal duties in 2019 due to her relationship with Epstein, and in October, King Charles stripped her of her princely titles. Last week, he was forced to move out of his royal mansion.

In 2022, he settled a lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre alleging that Epstein sexually assaulted her during her relationship with Epstein when she was a teenager. Giuffre committed suicide last April.

While the royal family has tried to distance itself from Mountbatten-Windsor, he has become a thorn in their side.

“Charles, how long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?” A man shouted from the crowd as the King arrived in Clitheroe, northern England, the second time in a week he had been beaten.

Last week, police also said they were reviewing new charges against Andrew, triggered by recent files, about a woman being taken to an address in Windsor, near London, where he lives on the royal estate.

In the past 10 days, revelations of the files have also engulfed Prime Minister Keir Starr in what is seen as the biggest crisis of her premiership, including the appointment of Peter Mandelson, an acquaintance of Epstein, as ambassador to the US.

Like Andrew, it appears Mandelson shared sensitive government files with Epstein from 2009 and 2010, and police are investigating claims of misconduct in public office.

(Reporting by Michael Holden, Sarah Young and Sam Tabahrity; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Kevin Liffey)