Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been formally reported to the police following allegations he was involved in the trafficking of a woman to the UK for sex.

As the allegations date from 2010 they are covered by the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The alleged offences against Virginia Guiffre date from 2001 and so are not covered by that Act.

It is alleged that Andrew was involved in bringing the victim into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

The 2003 law creates offences related to bringing a person to the UK, travelling within the UK or arranging a person to leave the UK for such purposes.

Campaign group Republic has previously challenged the Met police to act on a slew of accusations against Andrew.

Quoting a BBC report, the police report said:

A woman is alleging that she was sent to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The encounter allegedly occurred at the former prince's residence, Royal Lodge, in 2010. The woman, who is not British, was in her 20s at the time.

The woman's lawyer, Brad Edwards from the US firm Edwards Henderson, said that after spending the night with Andrew, she says she was also given a tour of Buckingham Palace and tea.

"We're talking about at least one woman who was sent by Jeffrey Epstein over to Prince Andrew."

There is a likelihood of offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, particularly (but not
necessarily only):

-Section 57: Trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation
-Section 58: Trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation
-Section 59: Trafficking out of the UK for sexual exploitation

Speaking today, Graham Smith of Republic said:

"The Met has ignored accusations against Andrew for more than two decades. They have brought shame on the police, and have failed victims and the country."

"Now the police must act. I wanted to be sure that they have no excuse, no reason to ignore this issue."

"So I have reported the alleged crimes myself, to ensure they are reported as crimes committed in the UK, to ensure the police must now respond to a formal report."

"So much talk is about Andrew giving testimony to the US Congress, but he needs to be answering questions in a London police station."

"This isn't a judgement on his guilt or innocence, it is an insistence that the law treat everyone equally. Anyone else facing such accusations would have been arrested and questioned a long time ago."

"The victims and the country need to see justice done. And we need to see the palace open up about what the royals knew and when, and why they have sought to protect Andrew at every turn."

The report reference number is TAA-5045-26-0143-00