<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="http://9news.com.au/uk" rel="" target="" title="British"><span>British</span></a><span> </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/police" rel="" target="" title="police"><span>police</span></a><span> say they are examining claims that former </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/prince-andrew" rel="" target="" title="prince Andrew"><span>prince Andrew</span></a><span> sent confidential trade reports to </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="" title="Jeffrey Epstein"><span>Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span>, as </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/prince-william" rel="" target="" title="Prince William"><span>Prince William</span></a><span>'s office says he is "deeply concerned'' about the revelations coming out of the </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="US"><span>US</span></a><span> investigation into the late sex offender.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Thames Valley Police, which serves areas west of London, including the ex-royal's former home in Windsor, launched the inquiry after news organisations reported on emails that suggest the then-prince sent Epstein reports from a 2010 tour of South East Asia he took as Britain's envoy for international trade.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An anti-monarchy campaigner said he reported the former prince for suspected misconduct in public office and breaches of Britain's Official Secrets Act as a result of the emails, which were among the more than 3 million pages of documents released last month by the US Justice Department.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We can confirm receipt of this report and are assessing the information in line with our established procedures," the police force said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/epstein-files-prince-andrew-new-associations-arise/d78c8239-dd94-47d6-b938-e69f587dfde6"><strong><span>More about former prince Andrew's relationship with Epstein revealed</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Royals seek to distance themselves</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/prince-andrew-news-king-charles-iii-banishes-brother-to-buttress-the-house-of-windsors-foundations/1044252f-a7d1-4f04-b62d-26b0ebc14fe0" rel="" target="" title="King Charles III last year stripped"><span>King Charles III last year stripped</span></a><span> his 65-year-old brother of his royal titles after earlier revelations about his relationship with Epstein. The former prince, now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has denied all wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/epstein-files-update-uk-police-force-assesses-claims-former-prince-andrew-sent-sensitive-trade-reports-to-jeffrey-epstein/2ff5be9c-fe0b-4c5e-8570-5aa203c31f2c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The royal family on Monday continued its effort to insulate itself from the scandal, as Prince William and Princess Catherine issued their first statement about the documents released by the US. The files reveal the web of rich, powerful people Epstein used to exploit young women and girls, and show that Mountbatten-Windsor's close relationship with Epstein continued even after the financier was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I can confirm that the Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continued revelations,'' a spokesperson said as William travelled to Saudi Arabia for an official visit. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Their thoughts remain focused on the victims."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The jeopardy faced by the royal family could be seen on Monday when King Charles visited Lancashire, in north-west England. While most of the public clapped, cheered and waved British flags, one person shouted, "How long have you known about Andrew?"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Correspondence unearthed in recent days, as reporters continue to comb through the documents, appear to show that Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded copies of his reports from a 2010 tour of South East Asia to Epstein soon after he returned to Britain. An earlier email appears to show Andrew sharing his itinerary for the two-week trip to Hanoi, Saigon, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong with Epstein.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The king last week forced Mountbatten-Windsor to leave his longtime home at Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, accelerating a move that was first announced in October but wasn't expected to be completed until later this year. </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/prince-andrew-update-uk-pm-keir-starmer-backs-inquiry-into-royal-lodge-lease/d228b8c2-ad92-4e06-b8b0-70ce5156ddca" rel="" target="" title="Anger over Mountbatten-Windsor's living arrangements"><span>Anger over Mountbatten-Windsor's living arrangements</span></a><span> had grown amid concern that he was still reaping rewards from his status as a royal even though he is no longer a working member of the royal family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mountbatten-Windsor is </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/former-prince-andrew-moves-to-king-charles-iiis-private-estate-after-epstein-document-uproar/b8462928-6e66-4f55-a710-156f3d47b0ea" rel="" target="" title="now living on the king's Sandringham estate in eastern England"><span>now living on the king's Sandringham estate in eastern England</span></a><span>. He will live temporarily at Wood Farm Cottage while his permanent home on the estate undergoes repairs. Unlike Royal Lodge, which is owned by the crown and managed for the benefit of taxpayers, Sandringham is owned privately by the king.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>No new statement from Buckingham Palace</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Charles and Queen Camilla, who has long campaigned against violence against women, haven't commented directly on the newly released Epstein files, with Buckingham Palace instead referring the media to a statement the royal couple made last year as the scandal began to accelerate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse,'' Buckingham Palace said in a statement released on October 30, when the king announced that Andrew would be stripped of his titles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Thames Valley Police began its inquiry after Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, reported Mountbatten-Windsor for suspected abuse of public office and violations of Britain's Official Secrets Act.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Smith, whose group seeks to replace the king with an elected head of state, compared Mountbatten-Windsor's correspondence with Epstein to earlier revelations about Peter Mandelson, Britain's former ambassador to the US, who is already the subject of a police investigation into whether he shared sensitive information with Epstein. Those communications were also revealed in the Justice Department documents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I cannot see any significant difference between these allegations and those against Peter Mandelson," Smith said on social media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: </span></strong></em><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via </span></strong></em><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span> and </span></strong></em><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong></strong></em></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by </span></strong></em><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a><em><strong></strong></em></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to </span></strong></em><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a><em><strong></strong></em></li></ul></div></div>