Prince Andrew's attempt to 'dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre' claim branded 'deeply concerning'

A Cabinet minister has said reports that Prince Andrew tried to get the Metropolitan Police to dig up dirt on his sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre are 'deeply concerning'

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A senior government minister has said reports that Prince Andrew tried to get his close protection officer to dig up dirt on his sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre are "deeply concerning".

And in a bombshell turn this morning, it emerged police are "actively looking" into the claims. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: “We are aware of media reporting and are actively looking into the claims made.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, when asked about the reports, said: "These are deeply concerning allegations. I think people want to look at those allegations and what the substance is behind them.

"But if that is correct, that is absolutely not the way that close protection officers should be used."

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It comes after the Mail on Sunday reported that Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded Met bodyguard to investigate Ms Giuffre in a bombshell email. The newspaper said the prince passed his close protection officer her date of birth and confidential social security number and told him to dig up information on her.

Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein as a teen, had claimed she was sexually abused by Prince Andrew, claims the royal has strongly denied. Ms Giuffre, 41, took her own life in April.

On Friday, it emerged that Prince Andrew is set to give up all of his titles - including the Duke of York - after King Charles reportedly reached "tipping point" over the prince's ongoing scandals.

Mr Miliband said ministers will be "guided" by the royal family in how they handle Prince Andrew's position, telling Sky News: "I think in this we're going to be guided by the palace and the royal family.

"Obviously, all of our sympathies and the sympathies of your viewers at this time are with Virginia Giuffre and her family as to these really concerning set of issues.

"But I think it's really important as a Government minister, that we allow the royal family to make decisions on these questions."

Asked if he would support legislation to strip Andrew of his titles, Mr Miliband insisted the Government would be guided by the Royals.

He added to the BBC: "I think the royal family have said that they didn't want to take up parliamentary time with this. There are lots of other things that Parliament is discussing."