Former security officers who once protected Andrew Mountbatten Windsor are now under scrutiny as police delve into their emails, phone logs, and notes.
The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into claims that the former duke, who has since fallen from grace, requested a police bodyguard to gather damaging information on Virginia Giuffre, a young woman accusing him of sexual misconduct.
An explosive email previously uncovered by The Mail on Sunday revealed that Andrew allegedly asked a taxpayer-funded officer from the Met to investigate Ms. Giuffre, providing her date of birth and sensitive social security information.
Subsequently, Andrew informed Ed Perkins, who served as Queen Elizabeth’s deputy press secretary, that he had tasked a member of his personal protection team—specifically from the Met’s elite SO14 Royalty Protection Group—with collecting intelligence on Ms. Giuffre.
This email was sent to Mr. Perkins mere hours before the newspaper published the notorious photograph of the duke with a then-17-year-old Ms. Giuffre in 2011, an image that would later contribute significantly to his public disgrace.
Reports indicate that at least two of Andrew’s former bodyguards have been interviewed by authorities investigating these allegations, as they evaluate the need for “any further assessment or review.”
Andrew, who was sensationally stripped of his royal titles earlier this month, wrote in an email to Mr Perkins: ‘It would also seem she has a criminal record in the [United] States.’
‘I have given her DoB [date of birth] and social security number for investigation with XXX, the on duty ppo [personal protection officer].’
Virginia Giuffre with a photo of herself as a teenager, when she says she was abused by Jeffrey Epstein, Virginia Giuffre and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, among others
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (pictured), formerly the Duke of York, was stripped of all of his royal titles earlier this month
It is not suggested that the officer complied with the prince’s request, while Ms Giuffre’s family have since said she did not have a criminal record.
If the request had been carried out, it would have broken data protection laws, which could potentially amount to a misconduct in public office offence.
In turn, the former duke of York could also be accused of assisting misconduct in a public office.
And if the case is probed by the Met, it would be the first time the former royal has been interviewed by officers since his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein came to light.
A source told The Sun: ‘As part of the initial examination of the case, officers are currently trying to establish what material is available.
‘They are actively seeking to find emails and communications from Andrew’s royalty protection team, as well as their notebooks.’
It is understood that internal Met emails are deleted after six years. However, notebooks of royalty protection and electronic devices are held for three decades, the insider added.
Ex Metropolitan Royal Protection Command head Dai Davies said there was now enough evidence for the ex-prince to be ‘interviewed under caution’.
‘I have to ask why the Met are taking so long to start a proper investigation as there’s a clear prima facie case here,’ he told the newspaper.
He added that had it been a general member of the public asking a police officer to do such a thing, the force would ‘have been knocking at our door’.
Virginia Giuffre photographed with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in early 2001
Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre was published on October 21, 2025
He also believes the notebooks, as well as other documents held by Andrew’s bodyguards, could pinpoint his whereabouts when Ms Giuffre claimed she had sex with the former duke.
It comes after the Mail on Sunday revealed that Met detectives are poring over the posthumous memoirs of Ms Giuffre.
The MoS learnt that officers are examining her book as part of a ‘scoping exercise’ into revelations by this newspaper about Andrew’s links to sex offender Epstein
The memoirs of Ms Giuffre – who took her own life in April aged 41 – were published in October.
In the book, Nobody’s Girl, she detailed being trafficked at age 17 and also accused Andrew of being ‘entitled, as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright’.
She also described three occasions when Ms Giuffre alleged Andrew had sex with her. Andrew has repeatedly and vehemently denied her claims.
Sources this weekend said that as well as probing the email Andrew sent about his accuser, officers are also looking closely at Ms Giuffre’s book to see whether it contains any new leads.
The Mail on Sunday understands that detectives have not yet spoken to Andrew.
The Daily Mail has approached Buckingham Palace for comment.
