The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is looking into reports that Prince Andrew asked one of his taxpayer‑funded protection officers to check personal information about Virginia Giuffre in 2011. The claims, first reported in the UK press, state the prince provided her date of birth and a US Social Security number to a personal protection officer. A Met spokesperson told PA, quoted by Sky News, “We are aware of media reporting and are looking into the claims made.” The Times and other outlets have reported similar details.
An “active look‑in” of this kind is an initial assessment, not a criminal investigation. In practice, forces review what is alleged, what material is available, and whether the threshold is met to record a crime or open a formal misconduct or criminal inquiry. Under the Home Office Counting Rules and the National Crime Recording Standard, a decision to record a notifiable offence engages different processes and timelines than an assessment of media allegations. No criminal investigation has been announced by the Met at this stage.
The allegations relate to the period just before a photograph of the prince with Ms Giuffre was published in February 2011. Separate disclosures this month included an email sent by the prince to Jeffrey Epstein the day after that photo appeared, in which he wrote “we are in this together” and urged they “keep in close touch,” undermining his 2019 assertion that he ended contact with Epstein in December 2010. Andrew continues to deny Ms Giuffre’s allegations.
Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP), the Met command that provides armed close protection to the Royal Family and ministers, is tasked with personal security and protective operations, not general detective work. Met documentation describes RaSP’s role as delivering armed protection in the UK and overseas; investigations are ordinarily conducted by specialist crime units or other commands, not by protection teams. FOI material also shows investigative oversight for incidents typically sits outside RaSP.
If a protection officer were to use police systems for a non‑policing purpose, potential offences could arise. These include the statutory offence of corrupt or other improper exercise of police powers and privileges under section 26 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, unlawful obtaining or disclosure of personal data under section 170 of the Data Protection Act 2018, and unauthorised access offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. Recent IOPC cases underline that misuse of police information systems is treated as a serious matter that can lead to criminal charges and dismissal.
The police assessment coincides with Prince Andrew’s announcement on 17 October 2025 that he will no longer use his titles and honours, including “Duke of York” and his Garter role, after discussions with the King. He remains a prince by birth and retains the peerages in law; the step concerns usage rather than legal deprivation. Sky News and the Guardian both note that this was a usage decision, not a formal stripping.
Moving from non‑use to removal engages constitutional mechanisms. Forcibly revoking a dukedom would require an Act of Parliament; altering the style of “prince” would require letters patent issued by the sovereign. These points have been set out in recent reporting and commentary and reflect long‑standing constitutional practice on peerages and royal styles.
Family members of Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in Western Australia on 25 April 2025, have welcomed the non‑use announcement but urged further steps. BBC News reported that her brother asked the King to remove the “prince” title. Her death was confirmed by multiple outlets earlier this year, and a posthumous memoir is due for publication this month.
For policy professionals, the distinction between an assessment and a recorded investigation is material. An assessment can conclude with no further action, referral to the Directorate of Professional Standards, or escalation to a criminal inquiry if the recording threshold is met. Where police conduct is in scope, forces may consider referral to the IOPC in line with statutory guidance.
Prince Andrew has consistently denied Ms Giuffre’s allegations and previously settled a US civil claim in 2022 without admission of liability. The Met has made no finding on the latest claims; its public position remains that it is looking into the media reports. Any progression beyond this stage would be communicated formally by the force.