Metropolitan Police officers were told to guard a lavish party at Jeffrey Epstein’s home in New York, according to newly released emails.
Two of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s protection officers appear to have been told to provide security for the celebrity dinner in December 2010.
The then-Duke was the guest of honour at the star-studded event, which included Woody Allen, US news anchors Katie Couric and George Stephanopoulo and comedian Chelsea Handler.
The suggestion that the Met Police effectively acted as bouncers for a convicted paedophile will heap further pressure on the force, which has not charged anyone in connection with the Epstein files.
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The monarchy was dragged into its biggest crisis in decades after Andrew was arrested this week.
He was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office and spent 11 hours in police custody on his 66th birthday before being released under investigation.
Andrew’s 2010 trip to New York was at the centre of his BBC Newsnight interview in 2019, in which the former prince claimed he travelled solely to ‘cut ties’ with Epstein.
However, four days into the trip, Epstein held an elite dinner party for Andrew at his house on 71st Street.
The Epstein files appear to show that an email was sent the night before, with the heading: ‘Security for party.’
The email – sent by an unidentified member of staff wrote to the paedophile financier – read: ‘The Duke’s 2 protection officers along with state security will all be here for tomorrow’s dinner party.
‘Rich has given them instructions on the door. Do you wish [sic] Rich to stay for the party or is it ok for him to go home?’
The mention of ‘state security’ appears to indicate that US diplomatic protection officers were also present.
‘Rich’ is believed to be Richard Barnett, Epstein’s chief engineer and security fixer.
The Times previously reported that two of Andrew’s bodyguards stayed with him at Epstein’s mansion for more than a week during the 2010 visit.
Newly released emails appear to show Epstein personally offered to put up Andrew’s protection team.
The Met Police said they were contacting all of Andrew’s former protection officers to establish whether they may have witnessed any potential wrongdoing.
The force said: ‘They have been asked to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard … may be relevant to our ongoing reviews.’
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.
He was arrested on his 66th birthday this week over claims he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
The investigation is being led by Thames Valley police.
Detectives searched Andrew’s former home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire, over the weekend, while he remains holed up in a cottage tucked away on the King’s Sandringham estate.
The former Duke was pictured slouched in the back of a vehicle on Thursday evening as he left Aylsham police station in Norfolk.
Metro has approached the Met Police for comment.
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