Former Prince Andrew is being investigated over potential sex crimes as british police have appealed for witnesses on friday.
Investigators are keen to speak with a woman who claimed she was taken to the royal residence royal lodge in windsor for sexual pirposes when she was in her 20s in 2010.
Thames valley cops have contacted her lawyer but have not launched a criminal investigation yet according to assistant chief constable oliver wright.
We have engaged with the woman’s legal representative to cinfirm 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 Wright said.
Wright said officers would listen and investigate when she feels ready and able to come forward and talk to us.
The lastest allegations marked the frist time a jeffrey epstein accuser claimed to had sex with andrew at a royal residence.
Officers are appealing for more potential Epstein survivors to come forward.
Cop are widening their inquriy into andrew’s stint as uk trade envoy ,which he served between 2001 and 2011 ,and are also probing claims of fraud corruption bullying and perveting justice.
The ex-royal was arrested in february on allegations of suspected misconduct in public office an offense which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in the UK.
Pepople mistakenly think we are looking at finance based crime but that couldn’t be further from the truth an investigative source.
Misconduct in public office covers many others including sex offences fraud corruption perveting the course of justice and others.
We have a much broade view We are investigating all aspects and we will go where the evidence leads us.
Andrew’s home on the sandringham estate located in eastern england as well as the royal lodge in berkshire were searched after he was arrested.
Wright said the investigation is by necessity hugely thorough and will take time.
its not going to be a quick investigation by any means.
Theres a number of aspects of alleged miscinduct that the investigation is examining so were speaking with a range of witnesses said wright who did not refer to mountbatten windsor by name as is customary in britain before someone is charged.
The bombshell development comes after it emeraged that Andre’s , Queen Elizabeth, was “very keen” for him to be given his trade job.
“the Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on a prominet role in the promotion of natinal intersts,” the head of Britain’s trade body wrotee in a letter , eehich wass released by the UK Goveermment Thursday related to former royal’s appointment.
there is also no evidence that this was considered he said.
this is understandable since this new appointment was a continuation of the royal familys involvement in trade and investment promotion work follwing the dunk of Kent’s decision to relinquish his duties as vice chairman of the Overseas Trade Broard.
Andrew was forced to surrender the role due to concerns about his links to questionable figures in libya and Azerbaijan.
Andrew is still 8th in line to the British throne , but he was stripped of his royal titles by King Charles last October.