Police hold talks with prosecutors over Andrew allegations linked to Epstein files

Detectives investigating the former prince say the talks with prosecutors relate to allegations of misconduct in public office.

The discussions come after documents in the latest Epstein files allegedly show Andrew shared government information with the paedophile financier.

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"As part of this assessment, we have engaged in discussions with Specialist Crown Prosecutors from the CPS," Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said.

Police said the information is being evaluated to determine whether a criminal offence is suspected and whether a full investigation is needed.

Earlier today, Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson confirmed lawyers from the CPS were in close contact with the Metropolitan and Thames Valley forces.

Scotland Yard has already started an investigation into Lord Mandelson, after emails emerged from the Epstein files which suggest he may have passed sensitive government and market information to the convicted sex offender.

Thames Valley Police are assessing whether Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, also passed on government information to Epstein when he was in the role of UK trade envoy.

On Monday, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King was ready to support the police as they consider allegations against his brother.

During a criminal investigation, detectives can ask for investigative advice from CPS lawyers or submit a file of evidence for them to consider before any charges are made.

This process usually takes place once a criminal investigation is well under way.

Mr Parkinson said: "We are in close contact with the Met and Thames Valley Police but we haven’t been asked for formal advice yet. In complex cases, the CPS and the police do work together and we will do so."

Mountbatten-Windsor, who served as the UK’s special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011, has always denied any wrongdoing.

The former prince has been accused of forwarding briefing, which was prepared by British officials, to Epstein in December 2010 via email.

The "confidential" document was unearthed in the latest round of the Epstein Files and contained a list of "high value commercial opportunities" in Afghanistan.

Andrew is yet to comment on the email.

Further files released by the US government appear to show the former Duke of York sent the paedophile financier official reports from his visits as a trade envoy to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

One message indicates that a few seconds after sending the reports from the South East Asia visits, Andrew then sent a second batch of "Zip files" called "Overseas bids".

The Afghan document contained an extensive overview of investment opportunities in Helmand province, put together by British officials working for the Helmand reconstruction team.

An assessment of the current local economy was included, alongside several business opportunities - including "significant high value mineral deposits" and the "potential for low cost extraction".

Valuable natural resources such as marble, gold, iridium and uranium were mentioned, alongside possible deposits of oil and gas.

Andrew told Epstein in a note that the file was a "confidential brief produced by the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand Province".

The briefing was given to Andrew in the same month he visited Helmand and saw the UK troops based there.

Is his role as UK trade envoy, Andrew was responsible for promoting the UK's business interests overseas and to encourage investment.

According to official guidance, trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive, commercial, or political information about their official visits.

A former senior trade official said the documents in question were "absolutely not for sending outside government" as they contained "significant commercial things".

"They should not have been sent to somebody who might seek to use them for commercial purposes. This was certainly not something a trade envoy could possibly do and justify in any way."