Prosecutors are “providing early investigative advice” to the police as they carry out their inquiries into Lord Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.
Both the former Duke of York and the UK’s ex-ambassador to the US were arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections to the paedophile financier.
They have since been released under investigation.
The news comes as King Charles faces a call to meet with Epstein’s victims during his upcoming visit to the US.
A CPS spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we are now providing early investigative advice to the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the force’s investigation into a 72-year-old man and will continue to liaise as requested.
“We can now also confirm that we are providing early investigative advice to Thames Valley Police in relation to a 66-year-old man. We remain ready to support any investigation if needed.”
Mr Mandelson’s arrest followed allegations that he leaked sensitive government information to Epstein while he was a minister.
Mr Mandelson’s spokesperson has said he “very much regrets” the connection with Epstein.
In January, he apologised to the victims of Epstein for remaining friends with him after his conviction.
Keir Starmer sacked him as the UK’s ambassador to Washington in September after newly revealed emails showed the depth and extent of the then peer’s relationship with Epstein was “materially different from that known at the time of his appointment”.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, was also arrested over accusations he had shared confidential information with the convicted paedophile while serving as a trade envoy.
The former prince, who was stripped of his titles in October after more information came to light about his friendship with the late paedophile, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
He was the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over their friendship.
Both men were arrested after claims about them emerged in the Epstein files, which have been released by the US government.
Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has now urged King Charles to privately meet the survivors of the convicted sex offender to hear “how powerful individuals and institutions failed them”.
Charles and Queen Camilla are set to visit the US later this month to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. While the trip has not been confirmed, it is believed to contain a trip to Washington DC and an address to Congress.
Buckingham Palace has previously said that the King’s “sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse”.
In 2022, the former Duke of York reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her at Epstien’s property when she was 17 years old. The settlement contained no admission of liability and Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.