A former royal police officer has said Prince Andrew must answer key questions after reports he asked his police bodyguard to dig up the dirt on his late accuser Virginia Giuffe. Dai Davies, former head of Scotland Yard's Royal Protection Command, was speaking as the Metropolitan Police said it was "actively looking into" media reports that Andrew in 2011 sought information to smear Giuffre.

It is claimed he asked an officer on the force to find out if she had a criminal record. This comes after bombshell emails showing Andrew allegedly giving Virginia's date of birth and confidential social security number to his bodyguard.It comes after Buckingham Palace's announced on Friday that Andrew had agreed to relinquish use of Duke of York and other remaining royal titles after emails emerged showing he had remained in contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein longer than he previously admitted.

Speaking about the royal, Mr Davies said: "The team who were protecting him need to be interviewed, and the truth needs to come out one way or the other.

"Along with the other allegations that he has never really been questioned about properly by the police or anyone else, then this is yet another example why the authorities, for once, should do their job properly."

According to Mr Davies, there are four main questions that Andrew would need to answer if he were to questioned by the Met Police.

He revealed: "Who said what to whom, how did Andrew get her social number in America, how did he get her date of birth, did [Jeffrey] Epstein or [Ghislaine] Maxwell or anyone else obtain those for him."

Discussing Andrew's actions, he added: "Asking the officer is totally outside their remit. Their role is to protect the individual or the principal."

Virginia is the most prominent accuser in the case regarding the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia is the most prominent accuser in the case regarding the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In her memoir, Virginia has detailed her first sexual encounter with Andrew, adding that he was "particularly attentive" to her feet.

She penned: "I took him first to a bathroom, where I drew him a hot bath. We disrobed and got in the tub, but we didn't stay there long because the prince was eager to get to the bed.

"He was particularly attentive to my feet, caressing my toes and licking my arches. That was a first for me, and it tickled. I was nervous he would want me to do the same to him.

"But I needn't have worried. He seemed in a rush to have intercourse. Afterward, he said thank you in his clipped British accent. In my memory, the whole thing lasted less than half an hour."

Andrew strenuously denies all the allegations made by Ms Giuffre.