LONDON, 20 October (H.S.): The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Sunday that it is actively looking into media reports alleging that Prince Andrew attempted to use his police protection officer to obtain personal information about his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.

The claims suggest the prince sought to dig up dirt on Ms. Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year.

According to reports in the Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Telegraph, Prince Andrew allegedly asked his officer to investigate Ms. Giuffre in February 2011, just before a now-infamous photograph of the two was published.

It is claimed he provided the officer with her date of birth and confidential social security number for this purpose. Prince Andrew has consistently denied all allegations against him, and Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.

The development comes just days after Prince Andrew announced he would voluntarily give up his Duke of York title and other royal honors amid renewed scrutiny of his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The decision followed the emergence of emails from 2011 that appeared to contradict his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview claim that he had severed ties with Epstein in 2010.

Ms. Giuffre had alleged she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions while she was a minor, as part of the sex trafficking ring operated by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

A posthumous memoir by Ms. Giuffre is set to be released next week, which is expected to bring further attention to the case.The allegations have been called deeply concerning by UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who stated that using close protection officers in such a manner would be improper.

Ms. Giuffre's family has expressed that her sister would have been very proud of the prince losing his titles and has called on King Charles III to remove his title of prince altogether.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar