Palace Signals ExPrince Andrew Is 'On His Own' amid Police Scrutiny, Royal Author Says (Exclusive) Simon PerryFebruary 10, 2026 at 12:14 PM 0 King Charles; the former Prince Andrew Andrew Milligan WPA Pool/Getty; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty The hardhitting statement from the palace about the former Prince Andrew marks a "seminal shift" in thinking, a royal author says King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton made statements on Feb.
- - Palace Signals Ex-Prince Andrew Is 'On His Own' amid Police Scrutiny, Royal Author Says (Exclusive)
Simon PerryFebruary 10, 2026 at 12:14 PM
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King Charles; the former Prince Andrew
Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
The hard-hitting statement from the palace about the former Prince Andrew marks a "seminal shift" in thinking, a royal author says
King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton made statements on Feb. 9 supporting the "victims" of Jeffrey Epstein
The latest allegations suggest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may have shared confidential information with the late sex offender, a claim that police are assessing
A mood shift appears to be underway regarding the British royal family and the former Prince Andrew.
Breaking their silence on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's ties to Jeffrey Epstein since the Department of Justice released the latest related files, Buckingham Palace released a statement on Feb. 9 that they won't stand in the way of the police if they have questions for King Charles' brother.
Russell Myers, author of the upcoming William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, tells PEOPLE, "Certainly, there is an appetite at both Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace for Andrew to do the right thing by his conscience and speak to U.S. investigators if he has any information."
In the wake of news that the Thames Valley Police is investigating a complaint alleging that Andrew shared confidential information related to his role as a trade envoy with Jeffrey Epstein, a spokesperson for the monarch said, "The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor's conduct."
"While the specific claims in question are for Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police, we stand ready to support them as you would expect," the palace spokesperson added.
The former Prince Andrew and Prince William on Sept. 16, 2025
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Myers tells PEOPLE, "Buckingham Palace announcing that they stand ready to assist the police in any investigation is a seminal moment for the royal family. By referring to the former Duke of York as Mr. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in public and expressing that he is purely a private citizen is a clear indication that Andrew is on his own and will no longer be protected by the royal family, by the institution."
He adds, "This course of action should have been taken many years ago."
The words from Buckingham Palace came just hours after the first statement since the release of the Epstein files from Kate Middleton and Prince William. In it, they showed their support for the victims of Epstein. "I can confirm the Prince and Princess have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims," a spokesperson told PEOPLE.
Myers is with Prince William in Saudi Arabia, where the royal is spending three days on an official tour on behalf of the U.K. government.
"In Saudi Arabia, William was as professional as ever. But there is a deep feeling that the latest revelations in the Epstein scandal have the capacity to overshadow what they are trying to achieve," Myers says.
"It's an important step for both William and Catherine to not only convey their personal feelings on the allegations but also publicly state that they stand with the victims."
Prince William in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 10, 2026
Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
Myers, whose book is published in March, says that the couple "have found the disturbing claims in the Epstein files profoundly concerning, and they wanted to let it be known that they stand with the victims at the center of this."
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After Andrew stepped back from his royal duties in 2019, the late Queen Elizabeth stripped her second son of his military titles and patronages in January 2022, after a judge rejected his attempt to have Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre's sexual assault lawsuit against him dismissed. Andrew has repeatedly denied Giuffre's allegations and reached a settlement with her in 2022.
King Charles removed all of Andrew's royal titles and honors in October 2025 and ordered him to surrender the lease on his home, Royal Lodge. The former prince moved out of the 30-room residence last week and is now living on the royal family's private estate at Sandringham, Norfolk.
Myers, who is royal editor of the Daily Mirror, adds of the latest revelations, including that convicted sex offender Epstein spent time as a guest at royal residences, "Epstein was allowed to enter the heart of the institution. And while the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales may have had no idea about the actual closeness of Andrew and Epstein's relationship, it now affects them and their futures."
"This week, William has had one of the most diplomatically sensitive missions of his public life, where his role as a member of the monarchy and being in Saudi Arabia at the request of the British government, but it threatens to be overshadowed by this. It's stopping them from doing their jobs."
on People
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Source: Entertainment
Published: February 10, 2026 at 10:36AM on Source: PRIME TIME
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