Former Prince Andrew, now officially known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, is once again under the harsh glare of international scrutiny. On November 6, 2025, a group of sixteen Democratic lawmakers in the United States Congress sent a formal request for him to submit to questioning about his long-standing association with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender whose death in 2019 left a trail of unanswered questions and a sprawling investigation into his network of powerful acquaintances.
According to BBC News, the House Oversight Committee’s letter, addressed to Andrew’s residence at Royal Lodge, Windsor Great Park, stated pointedly: "You may have valuable information about the crimes committed by Mr. Epstein and his co-conspirators." The committee’s aim is clear—to uncover the identities of Epstein’s enablers and fully grasp the scope of his criminal operations. As the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, put it, "Well-documented allegations against you, along with your long-standing friendship with Mr. Epstein, indicate that you may possess knowledge of his activities relevant to our investigation. In the interest of justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, we request that you cooperate with the Committee’s investigation by sitting for a transcribed interview with the Committee."
The timing of this congressional request is significant. It came just as King Charles III formally stripped Andrew of all his royal titles and honors—a move announced by Buckingham Palace on October 30, 2025, and published in The Gazette, the UK’s official public record. This royal censure followed months of mounting pressure and controversy surrounding Andrew’s ties to Epstein, culminating in the announcement that he would also be leaving his 30-room mansion on the royal estate at Windsor.
Andrew, for his part, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In a statement released previously, he said, "I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first," noting that the decision to relinquish his titles was made after a discussion with the King. Despite the denials, the shadow cast by the accusations has only grown longer. Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17—a claim he has always denied—published a posthumous memoir in October 2025, reiterating her allegations. Andrew settled a civil lawsuit brought by Giuffre in 2022, paying her several million pounds without admitting guilt. In a tragic turn, Giuffre, a dual US and Australian citizen, died by suicide at her home in Australia in April 2025.
The congressional committee’s letter specifically referenced Giuffre’s memoir and the "appalling allegations that have come to light." The committee, controlled by Republicans, has not formally endorsed the Democrats’ request, and Rep. James Comer, the Republican chairman, did not sign the letter. According to The Washington Post, a spokesperson for the Republican majority dismissed the letter’s authority, stating, "Ranking Member Garcia does not speak for the Committee, and his letters carry no Committee authority." Still, Rep. Stephen Lynch, the Democratic ranking member, confirmed on BBC's Newsnight that the committee remains "extremely interested in hearing from Prince Andrew regarding his involvement in all this." Lynch added, "I think for those on our committee, both Democrat and Republican, who have seen the pain and anguish that has been experienced by these women, it will only increase our interest in speaking to everyone who was involved here."
The committee’s request, however, is largely symbolic. As noted by AFP and blue News, the US Congress cannot compel testimony from foreign nationals, and Democrats are currently in the minority in the House. A spokesperson for Andrew did not respond to requests for comment. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, when asked about the matter, said, "My view, and this is not about the individual case, more broadly, is that anybody who has relevant information should always be willing to give it to whatever inquiries need that information. But the individual decision is a matter for him." Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey added his voice, stating, "He should also give evidence to our Parliament. The public deserve answers and full transparency about this scandal."
Andrew’s demotion within the royal family has been both public and profound. His "prince" title, as well as other honors, were rescinded after a period of intense media scrutiny and public debate. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the former prince will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The palace’s statement emphasized that these measures were "deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him."
The Epstein scandal itself continues to ripple through the corridors of power on both sides of the Atlantic. Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, maintained connections with a host of influential figures, including former US presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. As blue News reported, critics have called for the full publication of all Epstein-related court files and statements, and the scandal remains a political flashpoint in the United States.
Within Congress, the investigation has already included testimony from survivors of Epstein’s abuse. The committee’s letter to Andrew set a deadline of November 20, 2025, for a response. While the odds of Andrew agreeing to testify before a US congressional committee appear slim, the request itself signals a growing determination among some lawmakers to pursue every possible lead in the ongoing quest for accountability and justice.
For Andrew, the consequences of his association with Epstein are already severe and public. His removal from royal life, the loss of his titles and home, and the persistent calls for testimony all underscore the seriousness with which both the British establishment and US lawmakers now view the matter. Whether or not he ultimately sits for a congressional interview, the former prince’s name remains entwined with one of the most notorious scandals of the century.
As the investigation presses forward, the world waits to see whether new revelations will emerge—and whether Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will choose to break his silence, if only to help shed light on the dark legacy of Jeffrey Epstein.
