Officers from the London Metropolitan Police (Met) received direct instructions to ensure security during a dinner at Jeffrey Epstein’s residence in New York, was announced this Sunday, February 22, by the British channel BBC. The event, which was attended by André Mountbatten-Windsor, was detailed in e-mails recently released by the United States Department of Justice, which contained the orders issued by that member of British royalty to his security body.
A Met stated that, “at this time”, it has not identified any inappropriate conduct on the part of its protection officers. However, last Friday, the police force has confirmed it is “identifying and contacting” former and current officers who may hold relevant information about these operations.
At the time, as a senior active member of the royal family, then-Prince Andrew was required to be accompanied by a close protection team (close protection officers) on all your trips.
Details of sleep in Epstein’s mansion
Os e-mails released in Epstein’s files appear to confirm preparations for André to stay with the tycoon in December 2010. In the correspondence, André’s private secretary requests the exact address of the stay and asks for “confirmation as to whether there is space for both of his protection officers in the house”.
Internal communications between Epstein employees confirm that there was “room for both of André’s bodyguards…one on the 4th floor and one on the 5th floor.” To the Messages further suggest that Metropolitan Police officers were given a temporary security code to “enter and exit” the New York property according to needs.
In a message dated December 1, 2010, the day before the dinner, an employee wrote to Epstein: “The Duke’s two protection officers, along with state security, will all be here for dinner tomorrow. Rich gave them directions to the door.”
And although the Met has been questioned, says the BBC, about whether the agents actually spent the night in the house and whether they used access codes, the police force declined to comment on specific security arrangements, highlighting only that its agents are governed by rigorous professional standards and that their actions are open to scrutiny.
Official trips vs. Private trips
O The British government’s Royal Visits Committee (RVC) is the body responsible for reviewing the official travel plans of active members of the Royal Family. This committee includes senior representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FCDO), the Royal Household and the Prime Minister’s Office.
When asked, once again by that British television channel, about the then Prince Andrew’s travels, a government spokesperson stated that the official travel plans made by the Duke of York in 2008 and 2009 were reviewed, but clarified: “The RVC is not involved in private travel undertaken by members of the Royal Familynor on any travel of members who are not on active duty.”
In a significant turnaround, André was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The royal was released under investigation 11 hours later. Meanwhile, searches of his former residence in Windsor, Royal Lodge, continue.
André Mountbatten-Windsor has always categorically denied any type of irregularity or crime.
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