Epstein files latest: Police 'assessing' claim Andrew sent confidential reports to Epstein

Thames Valley Police says it is assessing claims Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential documents with Jeffrey Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy. 

"We can confirm receipt of this report and are assessing the information in line with our established procedures," the force said.

An email exchange from 30 November 2010 - part of the latest release in the Epstein files - suggests Andrew forwarded Epstein "visit reports for Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shenzhen" relating to a visit he carried out around that time to South East Asia (see more in our post at 8.39am).

Andrew was the UK's special representative for trade and investment from 2001 to July 2011. As part of the role, he would frequently promote British business interests abroad.

The former duke vigorously denies any allegations against him in relation to Epstein.

A leading republican activist in the UK says he has reported Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to the police over revelations in the Epstein files.

Graham Smith posted on X:

"I have now reported Andrew to [Thames Valley Police] for suspected misconduct in public office and breach of official secrets in relation to these specific allegations. I cannot see any significant difference between these allegations and those against Peter Mandelson."

He acted in response to an email in the new file release that suggests Mountbatten-Windsor sent confidential documents to Epstein in 2010 when he was UK trade envoy (see more in our post at 8.39).

The former prince vigorously denies any allegations against him in relation to Epstein.

Smith is the chief executive of the Republic campaign group, which regularly holds events calling for the abolition of the monarchy.

A crowdfunding effort with the goal of bringing a "private prosecution" against Andrew has so far raised more than £24,000. 

Thames Valley Police has been contacted for comment.

Sir Keir Starmer has lost his second senior aide in 24 hours as he grapples with the fallout from the Epstein files.

Tim Allan, the prime minister's communications director, said he had decided to stand down "to allow a new Number 10 team to be built".

The departure is a further blow for Starmer, who is already fighting for his premiership due to the growing furore over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador in 2024.

Morgan McSweeney, his chief of staff, resigned yesterday, saying it was he who advised the prime minister to give Mandelson the job.

A Norwegian ambassador has resigned over her association with Jeffrey Epstein in another political casualty from the latest file release.

Epstein reportedly left the children of Mona Juul $10m (£7.3 m) in a will drawn up shortly before his death by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019.

The 66-year-old, who was Norway's ambassador to Jordan, resigned last night after being suspended last week.

Juul's contact with Epstein showed a "serious lapse in judgment" and an investigation into the matter would continue, foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said.

Juul told the NTB Norwegian news agency it had been "imprecise" to describe her contact with Epstein as minimal, but that the contact originated in her husband's relationship with Epstein and she had no independent social or professional relationship with him. 

The contact had been sporadic and private and not part of her official government duties, she said.

A photograph of Jeffrey Epstein with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman or MBS, is in the latest file release.

In the image, both men smile, with MBS's arm around Epstein's shoulder, as they stand in a room decorated with furniture and portraits.

The US justice department released the photograph without any context - it's unclear where or when it was taken or who by. Being mentioned or appearing in the Epstein files does not imply any wrongdoing.

The photograph takes on extra pertinence today as Prince William begins an official visit to Saudi Arabia to meet MBS, having raised concerns about the Epstein files in relation to his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

William will spend the first day of his three-day tour of the country with MBS.

He and his wife, the Princess of Wales, shared their first public statement on the Epstein revelations this morning (see 9.00 post).

The King has been heckled in public again on a visit to the town of Clitheroe in northwest England.

A member of the public shouted at the King "How long have you known about Andrew?" as he greeted crowds at the town's train station.

The rest of the crowd booed after the question was asked.

The King was heckled over the Epstein revelations last Thursday while on a visit to Essex.

While the Epstein scandal has rocked Buckingham Palace, it has also had significant consequences in Westminster.

The prime minister starts the week without his right-hand man - chief of staff Morgan McSweeney - after his resignation over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador in 2024. 

But has that secured Sir Keir Starmer's survival? 

Find out in the latest episode of Politics at Sam and Anne's...

It should not be underestimated how big a deal the statement from the Prince and Princess of Wales is, our royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills reports from Riyadh, where William is on an official visit.

This makes the couple the most senior royals so far to comment since the latest release of the Epstein files, she says.

"While the words may not be the sentiments that some people want them to make... they realised that they, I think, had to say something."

Watch her analysis...

The Jeffrey Epstein scandal is a burden on the Royal Family that they cannot seem to shake.

The latest files release has once more put a spotlight on the sex offender's relationship with the King's brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

For the most part, the family has stayed tight-lipped on the matter in public, but there have been some comments in recent days.

William and Kate

In a statement shared on behalf of the royal couple this morning, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "I can confirm The Prince and Princess have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims." 

It is the first statement we've had specifically from William and Kate on the matter. 

Prince Edward

During a visit to Dubai last week, Prince Edward, the King's youngest brother, found himself forced to address the ongoing scandal.

Becoming the first royal to respond to the latest release of the Epstein files, he said it was "important to remember victims".

Watch his remarks

King Charles III 

The King has not spoken publicly about the scandal, but last year he removed Andrew's title of prince in response.

The Palace said at the time:

"These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

"Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse."

The King was heckled about the scandal during a visit to an Essex village on Thursday, with a man in the crowd shouting: "Have you pressurised the police to start investigating Andrew?"

The King did not respond.

Who have we not heard from?

Basically, everyone else. 

This includes Mountbatten-Windsor's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. 

Documents from the latest release showed they had flown to Miami to visit Epstein in 2009 with their mother, Sarah Ferguson, less than a week after his release from prison.

Featuring in the files is no indication of wrongdoing, however, and Andrew has always vigorously denied any Epstein-linked accusations against him.

 By Rhiannon Mills, royal correspondent

The Prince and Princess of Wales are "deeply concerned" by the "continuing revelations" in the Epstein files, according to their first statement to date about the ongoing scandal. 

In an unexpected update before the Prince of Wales arrives in Saudi Arabia for an overseas tour, a Kensington Palace spokesperson told journalists in Riyadh: 

"I can confirm The Prince and Princess have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims." 

Since the latest files were released just over a week ago, senior members of the Royal Family have avoided commenting, despite emails and photographs that have continued to expose the close links between Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Last Thursday during a walkabout in Essex questions were shouted at the King but he gave no response. During a trip to Dubai last week, Prince Edward was also asked how the family were coping, saying we must think of the victims. 

In October, after the decision to strip Andrew of his titles and home, a statement from Buckingham Palace stressed that the King and Queen wanted to articulate that their "utmost thoughts" were with the victims and survivors. At the time, palace sources stressed that the Prince of Wales stood by his father's decision. It is telling that William and Kate are again repeating that sentiment. 

William's trip to Saudi, on behalf of the UK government, is being seen as a highly significant diplomatic visit, with its own potential controversies over human rights concerns despite huge social change in recent years. The decision to address the Epstein issue before he has even landed is indicative of a desire for him to be able to get on with the job of promoting UK plc and make sure all eyes are on why the relationship with Saudi matters.