London, United Kingdom. British media reported that Metropolitan Police officers assigned to Prince Andrew were instructed to provide security for a dinner party at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York residence in 2010. The reports cite emails said to be from the Epstein files.
Emails cited in British media report
The Sunday Times, which first reported the story, cited emails that appear to detail arrangements for Prince Andrew to stay with the late convicted sex offender in December 2010, along with two protection officers from London’s Metropolitan Police.
In an email sent the night before the event with the subject line “Security for party”, a staff member told Epstein that the two officers had been given “instructions on the door”.
Metropolitan Police response and outreach
The reports follow police statements on Friday that they were contacting former protection officers who worked for Prince Andrew and urging anyone with allegations of sex offences relating to Epstein to come forward.
Police said they had not identified any wrongdoing by the protection officers at this stage. Asked about Sunday’s reports, the Metropolitan Police said it had no further comment.
Separate investigation and arrest
Prince Andrew was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office in a separate investigation and was released under investigation after being held by Thames Valley Police for more than 10 hours.
The arrest related to allegations that he sent confidential government documents to Epstein while working as a trade envoy. Thames Valley Police continued to search his former mansion in Windsor on Sunday as part of its investigation.
Denials and past civil settlement
Prince Andrew has denied wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and said he regretted their friendship.
In 2022, he settled a civil lawsuit brought in the United States by the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager at properties owned by Epstein or his associates. He denied ever meeting her.
What do you think the emails indicate about the role of the protection officers at the 2010 event?
