King 'ready to support' police over Andrew

King Charles has expressed his “profound concern” over allegations about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and will “stand ready to support” the police if approached over the claims, Buckingham Palace has said.

- Caroline Davies Kyriakos Petrakos

Thames Valley police confirmed yesterday they were assessing claims that Mountbatten-Windsor had shared confidential reports from his role as a government trade envoy with the child sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.

Mountbatten-Windsor is suspected of forwarding official reports about overseas trips to Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Vietnam in 2010 and 2011, allegations that have emerged after the release of emails by the US Department of Justice.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said yesterday: “The king has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct.”

‘The spokesperson added that the “specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address”, but said that “if we are approached by Thames Valley police we stand ready to support them as you would expect”.

“As was previously stated, Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.”

Thames Valley police previously confirmed it was also assessing a report that a second woman claimed she was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with the then prince, which allegedly occurred at his former Royal Lodge residence in 2010. The woman, who is not British, was in her 20s at the time.