Met to look at claims Andrew asked police bodyguard to get dirt on accuser

THE Met Police have pledged to look into reports that Prince Andrew tried to get one of its officers to dig up dirt on his sex assault accuser Virginia Giuffre.

- Emily Ferguson

A bombshell email obtained by a Sunday newspaper appears to show Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded Met bodyguard to investigate Ms Giuffre and passed him her date of birth and social security number.

It is not clear whether this request was carried out. It comes after the King’s brother announced on Friday night that he would relinquish his remaining royal titles, including Duke of York, and public duties amid renewed scrutiny over his ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and an alleged Chinese spy.

Victoria Derbyshire interrupted her stand-in hosting slot on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg to deliver the update from the force.

She said: "The Metropolitan Police say they are going to look into claims that Prince Andrew ordered his bodyguard to dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew of sexual abuse.

"She says she was forced to have sex with him when she was 17."