How Prince Andrew is accused of using state resources to stay close to Jeffrey Epstein

Prince Andrew (Courtesy: Reuters file photo)

The arrest of Prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office has reopened an old but unresolved question. How far did the British state go in supporting his movements while he maintained ties with Jeffrey Epstein.

At the centre of the allegations are claims that Andrew, during his decade as a UK trade envoy, may have used taxpayer-funded aircraft, Royal Air Force facilities and police protection to travel to Epstein’s homes, including after Epstein’s conviction, CNN reported.

What the new allegations say

The latest claims, first reported by The Telegraph and cited by CNN, suggest that Andrew may have used chartered RAF flights and military airbases to travel for meetings that were personal rather than official. These trips, if confirmed, would fall outside the acceptable use of public resources.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has asked police forces to investigate whether civil servants facilitated such travel. According to reports, Brown sent letters to six police forces raising concerns about how Andrew’s official status may have been used.

Brown has said the information he provided was new, though the details have not been made public while inquiries are ongoing.

Police protection at Epstein’s residence

Emails released by the US Department of Justice have added another layer. The messages suggest that Metropolitan Police officers assigned to protect Andrew were expected to accompany him to Epstein’s New York townhouse in late 2010, more than a year after Epstein was released from jail.

One exchange refers to ensuring space at Epstein’s home for Andrew’s protection officers. Another message mentions that state security would be present at a dinner party hosted by Epstein.

At the time, Andrew was still a working member of the royal family and entitled to police protection. The question now being asked is not whether protection was allowed, but whether it should have been deployed for visits to a convicted sex offender.

What authorities are investigating

The Metropolitan Police has said it has not yet identified wrongdoing by any protection officers. It is contacting former and serving officers and reviewing whether anything they witnessed should be formally reported.

Other UK police forces are also examining whether British airports were used in ways that may relate to Epstein’s trafficking activities. Essex Police is looking into flights linked to Stansted Airport, while Bedfordshire Police is assessing movements through Luton. West Midlands Police is reviewing possible links involving Birmingham Airport.

The Met has confirmed that it is liaising with US law enforcement but says no new sexual offence allegations have been made within its jurisdiction.

Andrew’s position

Andrew has not commented on the latest claims. He has previously denied any wrongdoing and said he neither witnessed nor suspected Epstein’s crimes. CNN has requested fresh comment from him.

The case does not rest on allegations of sexual misconduct. Instead, it focuses on whether public office and public funds were misused, a charge that carries serious legal consequences if proven.

Why this matters now

The Epstein document releases have shifted scrutiny away from personal associations and toward institutional decisions. Who authorised flights. Who approved security deployments. And whether officials asked the right questions at the time.

For investigators, the issue is not hindsight. It is whether safeguards failed while warnings were already on the record.

As multiple police forces review evidence across borders, the case against Prince Andrew is moving from reputational damage into the realm of administrative and criminal accountability.