**Prince Andrew Faces New Scrutiny Amid Allegations of Attempting to Discredit Accuser**
In October 2025, the Metropolitan Police in London confirmed they are actively investigating a report suggesting Prince Andrew may have tried to undermine his sexual assault accuser, Virginia Giuffre, by asking his police bodyguard to obtain confidential information about her. This revelation has added to the long-running controversy surrounding the Duke of York and his connections to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
**Alleged Attempt to ‘Dig Up Dirt’**
The allegations, first reported by the Mail on Sunday, claim that in 2011 Prince Andrew approached a police officer assigned as his personal bodyguard with a request: to search for damaging information about Virginia Giuffre. Reportedly, Andrew provided the officer with Giuffre’s date of birth and her U.S. Social Security number, seeking to determine whether she had a criminal record or any other potentially compromising history. This request came just before a British newspaper was set to publish a photograph depicting Giuffre’s first meeting with Andrew.
It remains unclear whether the officer complied with Andrew’s request or whether any information was obtained. Giuffre’s family has stated unequivocally that she did not have a criminal record. The London Metropolitan Police have said they are looking into the matter to determine whether any laws or police protocols were breached.
**The Fallout: Loss of Titles and Honors**
This latest revelation comes on the heels of Buckingham Palace’s announcement that Prince Andrew would relinquish his title as Duke of York, along with other British honors and ceremonial roles. The decision follows the emergence of incriminating emails indicating that Andrew remained in contact with Epstein for longer than he had previously admitted.
In a public statement, Prince Andrew acknowledged the ongoing controversy and its impact on the royal family. “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Andrew said. He emphasized his decision to step back from public life, stating, “I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.”
As a result, not only will Andrew no longer be known as the Duke of York, but he will also lose prestigious honors such as Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. However, he will retain the title of prince, which was bestowed upon him at birth.
**The Accusations and Legal Proceedings**
Virginia Giuffre, who tragically died by suicide in April 2025, became widely known as one of the most high-profile survivors to accuse Jeffrey Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, of sexual abuse and trafficking. In 2021, she filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew, alleging that he forced her to engage in sexual acts against her will when she was 17 years old. Giuffre maintained that Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her to Andrew for sex.
Andrew has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing and reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022, the details of which were not made public. Despite the financial settlement, Andrew has continued to publicly assert his innocence, stating in his most recent statement that he “vigorously deny[ies] the accusations.”
**Family Response and Public Reaction**
Following the announcement of Andrew relinquishing his royal titles and the new allegations of attempts to discredit Giuffre, her family released a statement to CBS News. They described Andrew’s loss of titles as “vindication for our sister and survivors everywhere,” and urged King Charles to go further by stripping Andrew of the title of prince as well.
“This moment serves as victory for Virginia, who consistently maintained, ‘He knows what happened, I know what happened, and there’s only one of us telling the truth, and I know that’s me,’” the family’s statement read. They positioned the development not only as a personal victory for Giuffre, but as symbolic justice for others who suffered abuse at the hands of Epstein and his associates.
**A Long History of Scandal**
The new investigation is just the latest in a series of damaging headlines for Prince Andrew and, by extension, the British royal family. The royal institution has spent years attempting to insulate itself from Andrew’s troubles, which have included not only allegations of sexual abuse but also scrutiny over his friendships and business dealings.