"Explosive Epstein Files Reveal Prince Andrew Was on FBI Shortlist of 11 ‘Prominent Names’ Accused of Sexual Abuse—Codeword ‘Mountbatten’ Used in Agency Documents"
In a revelation that threatens to reignite one of the most damaging scandals in modern royal history, newly declassified U.S. federal documents confirm that Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was placed on an internal FBI shortlist of 11 “prominent individuals” accused of sexual abuse during the bureau’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s global sex trafficking ring.
The files—part of a trove released under renewed pressure from victims’ advocates and congressional oversight—reveal that the prince, referred to in agency memos by the codename “Mountbatten,” was flagged as early as 2010 based on multiple witness statements, flight logs, and corroborating evidence linking him to underage victims within Epstein’s network.
The Secret Shortlist
According to the documents, the FBI compiled a confidential roster titled “High-Profile Subjects of Interest – Epstein-Related Abuse Allegations” during its post-2008 probe into Epstein’s operations. The list included financiers, politicians, academics—and royalty. Prince Andrew was among them, cited specifically in connection with Virginia Giuffre’s sworn testimony that she was trafficked to him for sex on three occasions while she was a minor, including in London, New York, and on Epstein’s private island.
One heavily redacted memo notes:
“Subject ‘Mountbatten’ (UK Royal Family) described by multiple sources as frequent companion of Epstein during 1999–2003. Alleged involvement in sexual encounters with minors requires further inquiry.”
Though the FBI never formally charged Andrew—citing jurisdictional limitations and lack of cooperation from UK authorities—the documents make clear he was considered a credible subject of concern, not merely a peripheral associate.
Codewords and Cover-Ups
The use of “Mountbatten”—Andrew’s formal surname as a member of the extended royal family—suggests investigators took his status seriously enough to warrant discreet tracking, while avoiding premature public exposure. Other names on the list remain redacted, but sources familiar with the file say they include figures from media, tech, and European aristocracy.
Notably, the files reveal that Ghislaine Maxwell identified Andrew in interviews as someone Epstein “trusted implicitly” and who “knew the girls were young.” While Maxwell later recanted parts of her testimony, these early statements helped cement his place on the bureau’s radar.
Palace Silence—Again
Buckingham Palace has issued no comment on the latest disclosures, maintaining its long-standing position that the Duke of York “categorically denies any wrongdoing.” Yet the new evidence undermines years of royal attempts to dismiss the allegations as baseless or exaggerated.
Legal experts say the documents could renew pressure for UK authorities to open a criminal investigation—a move repeatedly resisted on grounds of diplomatic immunity and evidentiary hurdles.
Virginia Giuffre Responds
Virginia Giuffre, now an anti-trafficking activist, addressed the leak on social media:
“They knew. They’ve always known. This isn’t conspiracy—it’s documentation. Truth doesn’t expire.”
Her 2022 civil lawsuit against Andrew was settled out of court, with the prince making a substantial donation to her charity—but without admitting liability. Many saw it as an attempt to bury the matter. These files suggest it may be far from buried.
A Monarchy Under Siege
With King Charles III striving to modernize and streamline the monarchy, Prince Andrew remains its most toxic liability. Stripped of military titles and royal duties in 2022, he lives in seclusion at Royal Lodge—but these revelations threaten to pull him back into the spotlight, not as a disgraced royal, but as a named suspect in one of the FBI’s most sensitive investigations.
As one former federal prosecutor put it:
“Being on this list wasn’t casual. It meant the bureau believed there was enough to look harder—if they’d been allowed to.”
Now, with the truth laid bare in black-and-white government ink, the world is left asking:
If justice was delayed for Epstein’s victims, can it still be delivered?
And for Prince Andrew, the answer may lie not in press statements—but in the unredacted pages yet to come.
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