Police look into prince’s rape case

LONDON: Police in London have spoken to the woman who claims she was raped and sexually assaulted by Prince Andrew on three occasions when she was 17.

Officers are understood to have contacted Virginia Giuffre about her allegations after Cressida Dick, London’s Metropolitan Police commissioner, said in August that “no one is above the law”.

The development could pave the way for the police to open a criminal investigation of Ms Giuffre’s claims, which Prince Andrew has always strenuously denied.

Giuffre, 38, who is also known as Virginia Roberts, has alleged that on one occasion in March 2001 she was trafficked to London from the US by the billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew (pictured) at the Belgravia home of Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite. Maxwell denies the claims.

It comes as it was revealed heir to the throne Prince William believes Andrew presents a reputational “threat” to the royal family and shares the view of his father, Prince Charles, that he should never be allowed to return to public life. “William is no fan of uncle Andrew,” a friend said.

Ms Giuffre’s allegations against the prince have been examined by the police on at least two previous occasions since 2015.

However, the force failed to open a full investigation each time, claiming the case was a matter for the US authorities.

The decision to approach Ms Giuffre now comes after she filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew in New York.

It accuses the prince of “rape in the first degree” and alleges he abused Ms Giuffre for the first time at Maxwell’s home in London after a visit to Tramp nightclub in Mayfair.

Prince Andrew claims he has “no recollection” of ever meeting her. Ms Giuffre also claims she was made to have sex with Andrew at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and his private island in the Caribbean.