Pressure is mounting on Prince Andrew to hand over his passport after he was publicly branded a flight risk in the wake of newly released documents concerning his association with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Author sounds the alarm
Andrew Lownie, the author of the book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, has made the urgent call for the former prince to surrender his travel documents. This demand comes as a fresh batch of emails from Epstein's estate is being scrutinised by the US House Oversight Committee.
Lownie stated that this new information is devastating for Prince Andrew, revealing what he describes as the lies the Duke has told about his relationship with Epstein. "This new information dump is the nail in the coffin for Prince Andrew," Lownie explained, highlighting the depth of the association.
Fears of a potential escape
The central concern raised is that Andrew might attempt to flee the country to avoid potential legal repercussions. Lownie suggested that the royal could follow the example of Spain's former King Juan Carlos and seek refuge in the Middle East, a move he claimed "would certainly suit the Royal Family."
"If the authorities are serious about investigating him and holding him to account then his passport needs to be confiscated," Lownie asserted, reinforcing his position that Andrew is a genuine flight risk.
Met Police investigation intensifies
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police are reportedly attempting to determine if a full-scale investigation can be launched. The probe is said to focus on allegations that the prince asked his bodyguard to look into Virginia Giuffre's details back in 2011.
According to reports, the Met is seeking to uncover emails, phone records, and notebooks from Andrew's former personal protection officers. This evidence could potentially lead to allegations of assisting misconduct in a public office.
The force has previously stated it is "considering whether any further assessment or review is necessary" following recent media reports on the actions of its officers in relation to this matter. It is understood that at least two of Andrew's former protection officers have already been questioned by the Met.
