Prince Andrew has been implicated in an alleged campaign to discredit his teenage sex accuser, Virginia Giuffre, involving the Metropolitan Police and a senior aide to Queen Elizabeth, according to a bombshell email obtained by The Mail on Sunday. The email reveals that Andrew requested his taxpayer-funded Met bodyguard to investigate Ms Giuffre, providing her date of birth and confidential social security number. Astonishingly, Andrew then informed Ed Perkins, Queen Elizabeth's deputy press secretary, that he had asked one of his personal protection officers from the Met's elite SO14 Royalty Protection Group to gather information on Ms Giuffre. This communication occurred just hours before the newspaper first published the infamous photograph of the duke with the then 17-year-old Ms Giuffre, a photo that would ultimately contribute to his downfall.

In the email, Andrew wrote to Mr Perkins, stating, 'It would also seem she has a criminal record in the [United] States. I have given her DoB [date of birth] and social security number for investigation with XXX, the on duty ppo [personal protection officer].' While it is not suggested that the officer complied with the prince's request, Ms Giuffre's family vehemently denied she had a criminal record, asserting that these revelations 'expose the lengths to which those implicated try to discredit and defame survivors. The truth will surface and there will be no shadows in which they can hide.' The Metropolitan Police announced they were 'actively looking into the claims made.'

These shocking details emerge in the wake of Andrew being compelled to relinquish all his remaining titles, including Duke of York and membership of the Order of the Garter, following new damaging revelations about his association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Ms Giuffre's family has since renewed their plea to King Charles to strip Andrew of his Prince title and called for a full investigation into how Andrew obtained Ms Giuffre's private information, particularly her nine-digit US social security number, described as 'the key to someone's life, required for opening bank accounts, applying for loans and getting a driver's licence or passport.'

Prominent legal figures have condemned Prince Andrew's actions and demanded an inquiry. Barrister Charlotte Proudman labeled his conduct 'utterly despicable and reprehensible,' suggesting 'legal implications for Andrew' and highlighting the apparent misuse of publicly funded police resources to 'dig up dirt on a survivor of sex trafficking.' Spencer Kuvin, a lawyer for nine of Epstein's victims, called smearing a survivor 'despicable,' while David Boies, who represented Ms Giuffre, stated, 'the Met Police owe Epstein's victims an accounting.' Mark Stephens, a data and privacy expert, speculated there were 'reasons to investigate whether a criminal conspiracy has occurred here.'

Ms Giuffre, who has been open about her troubled childhood and claimed she was abused by Epstein from 1999 to 2002 and trafficked to have sex with powerful men, including Prince Andrew (allegations Andrew consistently denies), is publishing a memoir this week. In it, she claims Andrew 'believed having sex with me was his birthright.' This email is part of a cache of 'Epstein files' obtained exclusively by The Mail on Sunday, now with the US Congress, which contain further explosive disclosures. These files reveal Epstein allegedly arranged a dinner date for Andrew with a woman who claims Epstein sexually abused her for years, and that Andrew previously admitted to Epstein it was 'possible' he met Ms Giuffre and that a photograph could exist, despite later denying any recollection of meeting her.

The 'Epstein files' also shed light on other connections: Epstein claimed he bankrolled Sarah Ferguson for 15 years, and she, along with her daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, were reportedly among the first visitors to Epstein after his release from jail for child sex offenses. Furthermore, Ferguson allegedly begged Epstein for a loan of up to $100,000 while he was under house arrest and sought permission to visit his private island. Former minister Peter Mandelson had reportedly warned Epstein that his relationship with the Yorks would 'end badly.' Ms Giuffre's family views these emails as 'further vindication of Virginia's courage and strength as a truth teller.'

The emails provide an extraordinary insight into Andrew and Epstein's reactions to a February 2011 interview with Ms Giuffre (then Virginia Roberts) for The Mail on Sunday. In response to the impending story, Andrew emailed Epstein on February 25, complaining the MoS was 'gratuitously trying it on.' The next day, Mr Perkins emailed Andrew the infamous picture. After a conversation with Ghislaine Maxwell, Andrew emailed Perkins, stating Maxwell considered Giuffre 'a lying so and so,' consistent with Epstein's view, and that 'If this comes to the crunch we must have a statement ready.' Significantly, Andrew did not question the photo's authenticity at this stage, despite later telling BBC's Newsnight he had 'no recollection' of ever meeting Ms Giuffre and suggesting the image could be fake. Epstein also suggested tactics to undermine Giuffre's credibility, including allegations of a criminal record or an arrest warrant for stealing $300 from a restaurant.

Andrew's initial reaction to the publication of the story and the bombshell picture was reportedly one of detachment, emailing Epstein, 'I am afraid I haven't read any of the Mail articles. I don't on principle.' However, his tone later shifted to 'downcast' as 'innuendo rather than substantive allegations' continued to mount. Following his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview, Andrew stepped back from royal duties. His recent relinquishment of remaining titles came after The Mail on Sunday disclosed he secretly told Epstein 'we are in this together' 12 weeks after supposedly cutting ties. Ms Giuffre's brother, Sky Roberts, welcomed Andrew's downfall as a vindication for Virginia. Despite these events, Andrew famously refused to express regret over his friendship with Epstein, citing 'opportunities that I was given to learn either by him or because of him,' a sentiment not shared by Epstein, who in 2015 admitted to Peter Mandelson that his association with Andrew would 'come to no good deed.' Prince Andrew declined to comment last night.