A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said King Charles III is prepared to cooperate if investigators request help as UK authorities assess fresh claims involving the monarch’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The palace said the King has expressed “profound concern” about allegations that continue to emerge, while emphasizing that the specific claims are for Mountbatten-Windsor to answer.
Police in the Thames Valley region, which covers areas west of London including Windsor, confirmed they are assessing information provided to them and have not announced a formal criminal investigation. Authorities said the material is being reviewed under established procedures to determine whether any further steps are warranted.
Emails From DOJ Release Fuel New Focus On Official Work
The renewed attention follows a large U.S. file release linked to the Epstein case. Multiple outlets reported that the U.S. Department of Justice released more than 3 million pages as part of its document disclosure, with additional scrutiny falling on messages that appear to reference Mountbatten-Windsor’s work as a UK trade representative.
According to the reporting, the complaint now being assessed centers on whether Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded confidential material, described as official reports and a “confidential brief”, to Epstein while serving as a government-linked trade envoy. The documents cited in coverage include references to a 2010 tour of Southeast Asia and communications suggesting that reports from official travel were shared shortly after receipt.
An anti-monarchy campaign group, Republic, said it submitted the allegation to the police. Its chief executive, Graham Smith, argued that the matter could amount to suspected misconduct in public office and to potential breaches of the handling of official information, which UK law can treat as serious criminal offences.
Police Review Runs Alongside Wider Epstein-Related Scrutiny
The palace’s statement comes amid a broader wave of reporting tied to newly public Epstein-related materials. UK police have also previously said they were assessing a separate claim involving a woman alleging she was sent to the United Kingdom by Epstein for an encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor, an allegation that Mountbatten-Windsor has denied.
In parallel, coverage noted that similar questions have been raised about whether other senior figures shared sensitive information with Epstein. CBS reported that the episode has echoed revelations involving Peter Mandelson, with the London Metropolitan Police previously confirming an investigation into his actions; the controversy has also intensified pressure on Keir Starmer over the political management of a related diplomatic appointment.
While the new allegation focuses on the handling of official documents, the broader Epstein record has long caused reputational damage to the British royal family because of Mountbatten-Windsor’s past association with Epstein. Epstein was convicted in 2008 in the U.S. and later faced further accusations before dying in U.S. custody in 2019, according to the same reporting.
Royal Family Seeks Distance As Pressure Grows
British media and wire reporting described the palace as continuing to draw a clear boundary between the monarchy’s public role and Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct. In recent years, he has been removed from official duties and stripped of key public-facing roles, measures that have been repeatedly cited by the palace as it responds to continuing disclosures.
The latest cycle has also prompted public comment from senior royals. A spokesperson for Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, said the couple were “deeply concerned,” adding that their thoughts remain with victims of abuse.
Reporting also said Mountbatten-Windsor has been required to leave Royal Lodge and is temporarily staying on the privately owned Sandringham Estate, including at Wood Farm Cottage, as living arrangements are adjusted. The developments have unfolded in a visibly tense public atmosphere, with at least one recent royal engagement drawing shouted questions about what the royal household knew and when.
