Andrew must testify and police must investigate – York MP

Rachael Maskell said a “proper investigation” should be undertaken after images of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor crouched over an unidentified woman were featured in the latest disclosure of files linked to the disgraced paedophile financier.

A second woman has also now alleged she was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Mr Mountbatten-Window.

The woman’s lawyer told the BBC the encounter allegedly happened at the former prince’s residence, Royal Lodge, in 2010.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has previously vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Ms Maskell, who led the successful campaign for the king’s brother to be stripped of his royal titles including the Duke of York, said Mr Mountbatten-Windsor “absolutely must testify before congress and a police investigation must ensue because we have got to ensure that powerful men are not exploiting vulnerable women”.

Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central (Image: UK Parliament/PA Wire)

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House on Sunday (February 1), the Labour MP for York Central said: “It’s quite strange that the investigation was dropped because the titles were dropped … I do think it doesn’t matter if you’ve got titles or no titles.

“Here we’ve got a powerful man where very serious allegations have been made about his association with very vulnerable woman, around trafficking, around sexual exploitation.

“There are victims and survivors who are claiming that they were subjugated by this individual, and therefore, of course, every measure should be taken in order to achieve justice.

“And as a result of that, he absolutely must testify before congress and a police investigation must ensue because we have got to ensure that powerful men are not exploiting vulnerable women.”

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Ms Maskell said police should investigate the allegations against Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, saying: “I do think that the system should work for him as much as it does any other person.

“The fact that he has held such high office doesn’t mean that he is above the law.

“And therefore, due process should ensue to ensure that justice can be found.”

Sir Keir Starmer has said the former duke “should be prepared” to testify before the US Congress about his links to Epstein, after he featured in the disclosures on Friday.

The former prince was stripped of his titles by King Charles last year after the posthumous release of a book by Virginia Giuffre who alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor paid millions to Ms Giuffre, a woman he has claimed never to have met, to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022.