Prince Andrew allegedly asked police to help him dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse, in 2011, according to a report from a British tabloid.

The report has led the Metropolitan Police in London to look into the allegations.

"We are aware of media reporting and are actively looking into the claims made," a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told Reuters following a report from the Mail on Sunday. The report, which was published Saturday, Oct. 18, claims Andrew asked police to investigate Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her as a teenager.

USA TODAY has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.

The British tabloid cited a 2011 email allegedly showing that Andrew told Queen Elizabeth's deputy press secretary that he provided one of his personal protection officers with Giuffre's date of birth and social security number "for investigation."

However, the report states, "it is not suggested that the officer complied with the prince's request."

The latest developments come after Buckingham Palace confirmed on Oct. 17 that Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles, will no longer use his royal titles, after years of criticism about his behavior and connections to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The family of Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, told the Mail on Sunday that they are asking for a "full investigation as to how Andrew obtained Virginia's private information." The family also said the report reveals "the lengths to which those implicated try to discredit and defame survivors."

Giuffre's memoir "Nobody's Girl" will be posthumously released on Oct. 21.

In 2022, Andrew settled a lawsuit with Giuffre, who has alleged that Epstein trafficked her to Andrew when she was 17. Andrew has denied Giuffre's allegations and claimed he has no memory of ever meeting her. The parties reached an out-of-court settlement.

That same year, after Giuffre's lawsuit, Andrew was stripped of his military links and royal patronages. Years prior, he had already stepped back from his public duties in 2019 amid backlash over his friendship with Epstein.

On Friday, Andrew said he would no longer use his royal titles because the controversy poses a distraction for the royal family, though he continues to deny collaborating with Epstein.

"In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family," Andrew said. "I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life."

Andrew added that with King Charles III's "agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."

Contributing: Maria Puente and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY; Paul Sandle, Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre report has police 'looking into' claims

Reporting by Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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