British police are reviewing new allegations that Jeffrey Epstein arranged for a woman to have a sexual encounter with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Royal Lodge in Windsor in 2010, amid renewed scrutiny of the former duke’s long-disputed association with the disgraced financier.
Thames Valley Police confirmed that it is assessing information relating to claims that a woman in her twenties, who is not British, was taken to an address in Windsor for sexual purposes during that period. The force stressed that the assessment does not amount to the opening of a criminal investigation and that no formal complaint has yet been made by the woman or her legal representatives.
“We are aware of reports about a woman said to have been taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes,” a spokesperson said. “We are assessing the information in line with our established procedures. At this time, these allegations have not been reported to Thames Valley Police.”
The claims were made public by the woman’s US lawyer, Brad Edwards, who represents several survivors of Epstein. He has said that his client alleges she spent the night at Royal Lodge – then the official residence of Prince Andrew – after being sent to the UK by Epstein, and was subsequently given tea and a tour of Buckingham Palace.
Edwards has indicated that he is considering civil proceedings on the woman’s behalf. Buckingham Palace declined to comment, while Andrew has not responded publicly to the latest allegations and has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The renewed focus on Andrew follows the release last week of more than three million documents by the US Department of Justice relating to Epstein and his network. The material includes correspondence and references involving Andrew and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, from the period after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
Andrew’s association with Epstein has already had profound consequences for his public standing. He stepped back from royal duties in 2019 and was stripped of his military titles and patronages in 2022, the year he paid a multimillion-pound settlement to Virginia Giuffre, who had accused him of sexual assault. The settlement was reached without any admission of liability, and Andrew has repeatedly said he never met Giuffre. She died last year.
In December, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that it would not pursue a criminal investigation into separate allegations involving Andrew, following a review of available material. The current assessment by Thames Valley Police is distinct and relates specifically to Royal Lodge, which falls within its jurisdiction.
Political pressure on Andrew has intensified in recent days. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, said at the weekend that anyone with relevant information about Epstein “should be prepared” to provide it to the appropriate authorities, emphasising the need for a victim-centred approach.
The first senior royal to comment publicly since the latest document release was Prince Edward, who said it was important to “remember the victims” when addressing the unfolding revelations.
Anti-monarchy campaigners have called for a full police investigation, arguing that the allegations raise serious questions about the use of royal residences and the accountability of senior public figures. Legal experts caution, however, that any criminal inquiry would require formal complaints, corroboration and evidence capable of meeting the threshold for prosecution.
