Prince Andrew is at the center of new accusations in the Epstein case: he allegedly made British taxpayers reimburse expenses for massages, travel and entourage during his public office. After his arrest and release, he remains under investigation for alleged illicit conduct linked to his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein
The Epstein case returns to shake the British monarchy and worsen the position of the former Duke of York. Prince Andrew allegedly reimbursed British taxpayers thousands of pounds for massages and tens of thousands for travel expenses deemed excessive during his time as the UK’s special trade envoy, according to new revelations reported by the BBC.
The brother of Charles III, already arrested and then released in recent days, remains formally under investigation as part of the investigation which aims to clarify the nature and depth of his relationships with Jeffrey Epstein.
Contested expense reports and the “culture of deference”
The accusations come from former senior government officials who spoke anonymously. One of them, now retired, said he was faced with refund requests deemed unacceptable several times between 2001 and 2011, the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor officially represented the United Kingdom as a trade emissary.
The contested items include “massage services” and travel expenses considered disproportionate. The official attempted to block at least one of these requests, but received opposition from the ministry’s leaders, who still authorized the payment with public funds.
According to his testimony, a sort of “culture of deference” towards reality has been consolidated within the institutions, such as to discourage objections and stringent controls on expenses.
A second source, again cited by the BBC, said he had “no doubt” about the authenticity of the accusations. The reimbursements would have included flights, hotel rooms and salaries of a large entourage, whose actual role was not always clear. “It felt like it wasn’t real money,” he reportedly commented.
The arrest and release: Andrea remains under investigation
In recent days, Prince Andrew was arrested in Sandringham and held for twelve hours before being released. Thames Valley Police confirmed that the former duke remains under investigation for suspected misconduct in the exercise of a public function, linked to the possible sharing of confidential information with Epstein during his government role.
Release within 12 hours is part of British practice in the absence of a criminal record and immediate risks for the community. However, the investigation continues and the next few weeks could clarify whether a formal indictment will be brought.
The images released by the media show Andrea in the back seat of a Range Rover as he leaves the police station: his gaze tense, marked by the media and institutional pressure that accompanies every development of the case.
The line of Charles III and the reaction of the victims
After his brother’s arrest, King Charles III publicly distanced himself, declaring that “the law must take its course” and reiterating the royal family’s commitment to continue carrying out their duty without interfering with the investigations.
Andrea’s name has been linked for years to the accusations made by Virginia Giuffre, who in 2021 sued him claiming that she was forced by Epstein to have relations with him when she was a minor. Andrea has always denied the accusations, although he reached an out-of-court financial agreement with Giuffre, the amount of which was never made public.
Following her death in 2025, her family said “no one is above the law, not even royalty”, calling the latest developments an important signal for abuse survivors.
The case, already devastating for the image of the British monarchy, is now enriched with a new chapter that intertwines alleged abuses of power, opaque management of public funds and the still unresolved weight of the relationship with Epstein. For Prince Andrew, the fall seems far from over.
