Police probe: Prince Andrew accused of sharing confidential trade details with Epstein
Police probe: Prince Andrew accused of sharing confidential trade details with Epstein
Thames Valley Police review Republic's complaint over claims Prince Andrew shared confidential trade material with Epstein during his years as a trade envoy.
Thames Valley Police are reviewing a complaint filed by the anti-monarchy group Republic over allegations that Prince Andrew, while serving as a trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, shared confidential material with Jeffrey Epstein. The inquiry comes after emails released by the US government appear to show that the former prince forwarded or discussed official briefing documents with Epstein, potentially exposing sensitive trade intelligence from trips abroad.
According to the material seen by investigators, on 7 October 2010 Andrew sent Epstein details of his official trips to Singapore, Vietnam, Shenzhen in China and Hong Kong, where Epstein's associates were present. After those trips, on 30 November, he appears to have forwarded official trip reports—down to the minute—to Epstein, five minutes after receiving them, via his then-special assistant, Amit Patel. In another thread, a confidential briefing on Afghanistan investment opportunities was also circulated to Epstein.
Officials say the trade envoy duties carry a clear duty of confidentiality over commercially or politically sensitive information connected to official visits. The specifics of what was shared, and with whom, are now under review to determine if there are grounds for criminal misconduct in public office or breaches of official secrets laws.
Andrew, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, has said that being named in Epstein's files does not automatically signal misconduct. His representatives have stressed that no charges have been brought and that the matter remains under investigation by the police.
Republic argues that the handling of such material is a serious breach of trust for a public office, and the police said they will continue to assess the information in line with established procedures. The case adds to a broader pattern of scrutiny surrounding Epstein's connections to powerful figures in Britain and abroad, underscoring how digital disclosures can surface sensitive information years after it was created.
With investigations in their early stages, officials say there is no presumption of guilt and no immediate conclusion. The public and media focus on the episode reflects ongoing debate about accountability for former officials and the boundaries of confidential information in diplomatic roles.
