London police are investigating claims that Prince Andrew solicited a police officer to gather damaging information about Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are looking into media reports suggesting that Andrew sought to discredit Giuffre in 2011 by asking his bodyguard to check her criminal history.

This inquiry follows Buckingham Palace's announcement that Andrew has agreed to relinquish his title as Duke of York and other royal honors. This decision came after emails surfaced indicating that Andrew had maintained contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein longer than he had previously disclosed.

Giuffre's family has expressed relief over Andrew's loss of titles but is urging King Charles III to take further action by stripping him of his status as a prince. Giuffre, who was 41 when she died by suicide in April, accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was 17, a claim he has consistently denied.

The allegations against Andrew have intensified scrutiny of the British royal family, particularly following a disastrous interview he gave in 2019. During that interview, he attempted to refute claims about his friendship with Epstein and denied having sex with Giuffre. Critics have pointed out that Andrew's explanations lacked empathy for Epstein's victims and were often implausible.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Andrew provided his bodyguard with Giuffre's date of birth and social security number, requesting information about her background just before a now-infamous photograph of them was published. The police officer reportedly did not act on Andrew's request, and Giuffre's family has stated that she did not have a criminal record.

The renewed focus on these allegations coincides with the upcoming release of Giuffre's posthumous memoir. British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband commented on the situation, stating, "These are deeply concerning allegations. I think people want to look at those allegations and what the substance is behind them. But if that is correct, that is absolutely not the way that close protection officers should be used."

In 2022, Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre after she filed a civil lawsuit against him in New York. While he did not admit any wrongdoing, he acknowledged Giuffre's suffering as a victim of sex trafficking. In a statement released on Friday, Andrew reiterated his strong denial of the allegations against him.