The family of Virginia Giuffre say they are “deeply disappointed” that London police will take no further action over claims that former prince Andrew asked his protection officer to dig for dirt on her.

Metropolitan Police said in October they were “actively looking” into allegations in the Mail on Sunday that the King’s younger brother – now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – had asked a personal-protection officer in 2011 ‌to dig up information about Giuffre.

The newspaper reported the then-prince had given Giuffre’s social security number and date of birth to his bodyguard.

Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, had accused Mountbatten-Windsor of sexually abusing ⁠her as a teenager. He has always denied the allegations.

“Following recent ​reporting suggesting that Mr Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked his Met ‍Police close-protection officer to carry out checks on Ms Giuffre in 2011, the Metropolitan Police Service has carried ​out ​a further assessment,” the force said on ​Saturday (local time).

It said had found no additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct.

“To date, we have not received any additional evidence that would support reopening the investigation. In the absence of any further information, we will be taking ‍no further action,” police said.

In response, Giuffre’s family said the decision had been made “without explanation.”

“While we have hailed the UK’s overall handling of the case of Andrew Mountbatton-Windsor previously, today we feel justice has not been served,” they said.

“We continue to challenge the system that protects abusers, especially as more evidence comes to light that can hold people accountable. Our sister Virginia, and all survivors, are owed this much.”

In October, the King stripped Mountbatten-Windsor of his royal titles, including prince, and forced him out of his Windsor home amid continuing allegations over the former Duke of York’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.

On Friday, Mountbatten-Windsor attended his first royal event since losing his titles – the christening of his granddaughter Athena.

He arrived at St James’s Palace in London in a green Range Rover on Friday morning, entering via a side gate away from waiting media.

He had been expected to attend the christening of Princess Beatrice’s daughter in the palace’s Chapel Royal.

His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who also lost her courtesy royal divorcee title and has reverted to her maiden name, is thought to have arrived separately.

Athena, the daughter of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, was born on January 22 and is the couple’s second child.

The private ceremony was also attended by Beatrice’s sister Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Other notable figures to attend included singer James Blunt and his wife Sofia Wellesley.

The christening appeared to feature just immediate family. No senior royals were present.

Mountbatten-Windsor and Ferguson’s previous royal outing was at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in September.

In 2022, Mountbatten-Windsor paid millions to Giuffre to settle a civil sexual assault claim.

He quit royal duties in 2019 after his disastrous Newsnight interview. However, publication of Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs, and the US government’s release of documents from Epstein’s estate has brought fresh focus on him in recent months.

American politicians have also criticised Mountbatten-Windsor for his “silence” after he missed a deadline last month to respond to their request to sit for an interview about Epstein.

He is expected to move from Royal Lodge in Windsor to the King’s private Sandringham estate in Norfolk at some point in the new year, completing his internal exile.

Lifeline 131 114

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National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

-with AAP