A woman who claims she was trafficked to the UK to have sex with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor won’t speak to British police, her lawyer has said.
The woman, who says paedophile Jeffrey Epstein sent her to Britain in 2010 when she was in her 20s, is said to have spent a night with Andrew at Royal Lodge in Windsor before being given tea and a tour of Buckingham Palace.
She was the second woman to come forward with claims involving the former prince and the first to make accusations involving a royal residence.
But she has now said, via her lawyer Brad Edwards, that she will not speak to police here as she does not have faith in the authorities and fears further intrusion into her life.
It comes after Thames Valley Police said last week it had been in touch with the woman’s lawyer ‘to confirm that, should she wish to report this to police, it will be taken seriously and handled with care, sensitivity and respect for her privacy and her right for anonymity’.
The force issued an update on its investigation into Andrew for alleged misconduct in public office and said it was looking at a range of possible acts that could come under the scope of the offence, including sexual misconduct.
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.
Mr Edwards, who represents hundreds of Epstein victims, told the BBC today that he has ‘multiple’ clients with information about Andrew, but that they ‘will not speak with authorities in the UK’.
The woman, who says paedophile Jeffrey Epstein sent her to Britain in 2010 when she was in her 20s, is said to have spent a night with Andrew at Royal Lodge in Windsor before being given tea and a tour of Buckingham Palace
A photograph of Prince Andrew released as part of the Epstein files by the US Department of Justice
‘The authorities did not care to do anything when Epstein was alive, so their confidence is low,’ he said.
He said that more than one client had initially been willing to speak with police, but were put off, in part due to fears over their privacy.
‘The harassment by the British press has dissuaded them from ever cooperating with UK authorities or speaking with the British press,’ Mr Edwards added.
Thames Valley Police confirmed in February it was assessing the woman’s claim that she was brought to the UK by Epstein to have sex with Andrew.
It is understood to have been in touch with Mr Edwards directly, but the lawyer told them the woman did not wish to speak with them.
Andrew was arrested on February 19, his 66th birthday, with police launching major searches at two addresses – including Royal Lodge – as part of their probe.
Officers released an update last week after reportedly becoming frustrated at a perception that they were only investigating the alleged sharing of sensitive information with Epstein by Andrew during his time as a trade envoy.
A statement released by the force said: ‘In addition to the investigation into misconduct in public office, the assessment of reports that a woman was taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes is ongoing.
‘We have engaged with the woman’s legal representative to confirm that, should she wish to report this to police, it will be taken seriously and handled with care, sensitivity and respect for her privacy and her right for anonymity.
‘We recognise how difficult it can be to speak about experiences of this nature, and any contact with police will be led by her wishes, when and if she feels ready and able to do so.’
The woman was the second to allege she had had sex with Andrew after his most prominent accuser, Virginia Giuffre. Ms Giuffre died by suicide last year aged 41.
A National Police Chiefs’ Council Spokesperson said: ‘As part of the UK policing response, efforts have been made to contact victim-survivors who have already chosen to share their experiences publicly.
‘In some cases, this has involved engagement with legal representatives; however, we recognise that we have not yet been able to reach everyone and our efforts continue.
‘We understand that coming forward can be incredibly difficult, and we want anyone affected to know they can do so in their own time, when they feel ready. Our door remains open.
‘Should any victim-survivors choose to contact UK policing, they will be treated with care, compassion and respect, with their wellbeing, privacy and right to anonymity at [the] centre of our response.’
