What official secret did Prince Andrew pass to Jeffrey Epstein?

They were not just friends with a liking for 'young women', it would appear, following the arrest of the UK's former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in England on Thursday, with British police searching the prince’s homes at Windsor, Berkshire and Norfolk.

Andrew had earlier been stripped of his royal titles after evidence surfaced to confirm that he had known one of the survivors of Epstein's trafficking racket, Virginia Giuffre, something he had earlier denied. Virginia, who died by suicide in Australia in April 2025, had specifically named the prince as one of Epstein’s ‘friends’ she was asked to entertain.

No explanation has been offered yet as to what the charge of ‘misconduct in public office’ actually means, though it is believed to be linked to Andrew's formerly official role as UK’s special representative for international trade and investment.

As news of his arrest spread, several UK news outlets claimed police sources had told them that the prince had leaked official trade documents and policy papers to Epstein. Andrew's older brother King Charles III in a statement voiced his anguish and pledged the royal family’s cooperation with the police investigation.

It is now becoming clear that Epstein, who was convicted of sexually abusing and trafficking minor girls way back in 2008, and who allegedly died by suicide in his jail cell in August 2019, did not just run a sex and prostitution racket. He was playing for bigger stakes — probably blackmailing governments and politicians, trading official secrets with various lobbies, controlling secret funds and passing on government documents to intelligence agencies, cultivating elite and royal connections to get information. 

The arrest of Andrew follows the dismissal of Peter Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador to US, and his subsequent resignation from the Labour Party. The new disclosures included allegations of Mandelson sharing sensitive government information and receiving money from Epstein. Mandelson has never denied his ‘friendship’ with Epstein, who called him ‘Peetie’ or PT.

One of the architects of 'New Labour', Mandelson had served as EU trade commissioner and business secretary. In recent years, he held influential advisory and diplomatic roles. He was appointed British ambassador to the United States in 2024 and resigned earlier this month.

Morgan McSweeney, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, also resigned, admitting that appointing Mandelson was a mistake that damaged the government. It is still not clear that Mandelson’s dismissal and Andrew's arrest are linked.

Across Europe, politicians, government officials and bankers have been questioned in the past few days. They include a former prime minister in Norway, a minister in France, a banker in Austria and a security advisor in Slovakia. The new documents also alleged that Epstein was using his private plane and an airfield in the UK to smuggle underage girls from eastern European countries into the US. His royal connections may have helped him keep the flights under the radar.

With more documents related to the Epstein saga likely to be released in the next few weeks, Andrew's arrest assumes added significance. European capitals are on high alert, discreetly preparing for more damning disclosures.

In India, meanwhile, there is radio silence on the part of the government about references to India and Indians in the Epstein files. Did Indians named also pass on official secrets?