With multiple police investigations looming, Andrew's time for dodging official questions about Epstein is finally up

By now, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – who, for much of his life has shown a remarkable lack of self-awareness – must be feeling the pressure to talk.

The exiled royal has so far avoided being called in for any form of official questioning over what he knows about the late Jeffrey Epstein's sordid activities, despite their years-long friendship and business dealings.

But the time has now come for Andrew to speak.

At least four police forces are currently assessing claims linked to the latest release of the Epstein files, a collection of three million documents published by the US Department of Justice on January 30.

A further three forces are assessing evidence contained in the files as part of a UK-wide investigation coordinated by British police chiefs.

Separately, the former prince could be grilled by MPs over allegations he shared confidential reports during his time as taxpayer-funded UK trade envoy.

And in the US, there are growing calls for Andrew to testify about his relationship with the paedophile before Congress in Washington D.C.

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With the walls seemingly closing in on the 66-year-old now, it's hard to imagine how Andrew will be able to dodge the questions this time around.

In 2022, Andrew reached a multi-million dollar, out of court settlement with Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre after she sued him in a US civil court. The move allowed Andrew to avoid testifying in a witness box and answering questions under oath.

The settlement included no admissions of guilt and Andrew has always strenuously denied the claims made against him.

This time, the situation feels very different.

In an unprecedented statement last week, King Charles said Buckingham Palace was ready to support police as they considered allegations against his brother.

"We stand ready to support them," the palace said, adding the monarch had expressed "profound concern" at the allegations surrounding Andrew.

King Charles had previously stripped his younger brother of his royal titles and honours and evicted him from Royal Lodge in Windsor into the smaller Marsh Farm on the private Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

The King has moved strongly to distance the monarchy from Andrew to prevent it from further reputational damage.

The King's statement, on February 9, came as pressure mounted on the royal family to compel Andrew to contribute to a police investigation.

Earlier this week, the UK's National Police Chiefs' Council – a body representing police leaders – announced a new national group had been created to support police forces that are "assessing allegations" following the publication of the Epstein files.

The affected forces will come together under the national coordination group to ensure consistency, with each force remaining responsibility for any potential offences that have occurred within their jurisdiction.

There are at least four police forces looking into claims raised by the release of the Epstein files.

On Tuesday, Essex Police said it was deciding whether to launch a criminal investigation into Epstein's private flights to the UK amid claims his victims were flown into Stansted Airport as part of a sex trafficking network.

Flight logs from Epstein's private jet, the so-called 'Lolita Express', revealed that around 90 flights landed and departed from UK airports, 15 of which were approved after Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008.

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown called on police to interview Andrew, claiming "at least one" of the flights was linked to the former royal.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We are assessing the information that has emerged in relation to private flights into and out of Stansted airport following the publication of the US DoJ Epstein files."

Thames Valley Police, which has jurisdiction for Windsor where Andrew lived for 20 years, is looking into claims from the former royal's time as a UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.

The allegations are that Andrew sent confidential reports to Epstein of his official trips to Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and China, as well as a confidential briefing on investment opportunities in Afghanistan.

Thames Valley police previously said it had held talks with specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service about the claims "to determine whether a criminal offence is suspected and whether a full investigation is required".

Scotland Yard was also looking into similar allegations made against Lord Peter Mandelson, the UK's former former ambassador to Washington, who is accused of misconduct in public office by passing sensitive government information to Epstein when he was business secretary.

Thames Valley police is also looking into allegations that a woman in her 20s was sent to the UK, by Epstein, for a sexual encounter with Andrew inside Royal Lodge in 2010.

On Wednesday, Surrey Police appealed to the public to come forward with information about claims made in the Epstein files about a possible human trafficking and sexual assault ring in the area between 1994 and 1996.

It relates to a redacted report made to the FBI in 2020, released in a December batch of the Epstein files. The report contains unproven claims of abuse at "paedophile ring" parties, at least one of which was allegedly attended by Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell. According to the claim, the victim was also taken to Frogmore Cottage, which was later home to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Surrey Police said: "After reviewing our systems using the limited information available to us, we found no evidence of these allegations being reported to Surrey Police. We therefore encourage anyone with information in relation to these allegations to report this to us online."

The Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday it was conducting initial inquiries into close protection officers who were assigned to Andrew amid claims some might have "wilfully turned a blind eye" during visits to Epstein's private island.

A further three police forces were now assessing the files including the Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Wiltshire.

Meanwhile, when UK parliament resumes next week MPs will discuss whether Andrew should face questions about his conduct while working as a trade envoy.

Liam Byrne, chairman of the cross-party Business and Trade Committee, told the BBC MPs were taking the allegations "acutely seriously".

As a member of the royal family, Andrew cannot be forced to attend a session to answer questions.

He is also not legally-bound to travel to the US to answer questions in front of Congress.

On Monday, Hillary Clinton joined a growing number of people calling for Andrew to testify over his relationship with Epstein.

"I think everyone should testify who was asked to testify. I just want it to be fair. I want everyone treated the same way," she told the BBC.

Clinton and her husband, former US president Bill Clinton, will testify in the congressional investigation into Epstein next week.

US Vice President JD Vance has also called on Andrew to testify.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last month suggested Andrew would be failing victims if he did not share any information he had.

If Andrew does get summed for questioning by police, or in front of parliament, it would be unprecedented.

The last time Andrew was grilled under pressure was during his disastrous 2019 BBC interview in which he claimed he'd cut off contact with Epstein in December, 2010.

That proved to be a lie, as proven by an email sent to Epstein on February 28, 2011, which revealed Andrew had remained in contact with the financier longer than he'd claimed.

Andrew wrote the email after continued media reporting about the Epstein scandal, telling him they were "in this together" and would "have to rise above it." Andrew also told Epstein they would "play some more soon".

Overnight, two Christmas cards from Andrew sent to Epstein in 2011 and 2012 were made public.

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