No further action over Prince Andrew, Epstein allegations, say UK police

Britain's Prince Andrew had been forced to step down from royal duties over his friendship with late US financier Jeffrey Epstein. PHOTOS: REUTERS

LONDON (REUTERS) - British police said on Monday (Oct 11) they would be taking no further action after conducting a review of evidence relating to sex crime allegations against Queen Elizabeth's son, Prince Andrew, and the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein.

London Police Chief Cressida Dick said in August that detectives would look at the allegations for a third time although they would not start an investigation, after Ms Virginia Giuffre filed a US lawsuit accusing the prince of sexual assault, which he has always denied.

She had said at the time that "no one is above the law".

"As a matter of procedure, MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) officers reviewed a document released in August 2021 as part of a US civil action," the police said in a statement on Monday. "This review has concluded and we are taking no further action."

In her civil lawsuit, Ms Giuffre, 38, has accused the prince of forcing her to have sex when she was underage at the London home of Epstein's longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

She also said that Prince Andrew, 61, abused her at Epstein's mansion in Manhattan, and on Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands.

The British royal, the ninth in line to the throne, has always denied those allegations or having any relationship with Ms Giuffre.

He was forced to step down from royal duties over his friendship with Epstein, who committed suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while being held on sex-trafficking charges.

The British Sunday Times had reported this week that London police had spoken to Ms Giuffre regarding her allegations.

"The Metropolitan Police Service continues to liaise with other law enforcement agencies who lead the investigation into matters related to Jeffrey Epstein," the police said in their statement.

Last week, lawyers for Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son, were given permission to examine a confidential 2009 agreement between Epstein and Ms Giuffre which they hope will absolve him from all liability in the case.

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