Government to be ‘guided’ by royal family on any moves to strip Andrew of titles

It has been reported that Andrew attempted to get the Metropolitan Police to dig up dirt for a smear campaign against his accuser Virginia Giuffre.

Transcript

00:00The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is looking into allegations.

00:08Prince Andrew attempted to get the Metropolitan Police to dig up dirt

00:14for a smear campaign against his accuser, Virginia Giffray.

00:19The force confirmed this after the Mail on Sunday claimed Andrew passed

00:25Miss Giffray's date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard in 2011

00:34and asked him to investigate.

00:36The Mail reported that Andrew embarked on a bid to smear Miss Giffray.

00:42He is said to have emailed the late Queen's then deputy press secretary

00:48and told him of his request to his protection officer

00:53and also suggested Miss Giffray had a criminal record.

00:57The Prince's alleged attempt on which the police officer is not said to have acted

01:04came in 2011, hours before the newspaper first published the famous photograph of Andrew

01:12with his arm around Miss Giffray in London.

01:16A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said,

01:20We are aware of media reporting and are looking into claims made.

01:26Andrew issued a statement in his own words on Friday in which he said he was giving up his Duke of York title

01:34and honours to prevent distracting from the work of the monarch and the royal family.