Former Royal Assistant Agrees to Cooperate with Police in Prince Andrew Misconduct Investigation

Charlotte Manley, ex-assistant to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, agrees to cooperate with police regarding claims of Palace-funded massages and Epstein-linked trade trips.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 12:48 PM EDT

Source: People

Allegations of Palace-Funded Payments

Central to the police interest in Manley is a report from The Times alleging that she signed a £75 ($100) check from a Buckingham Palace bank account in 2000. The payment was reportedly for a massage session arranged by Ghislaine Maxwell. This claim is bolstered by testimony from Maxwell’s former masseuse, Monique Giannelloni, who alleged that Manley personally coordinated the appointment at the Palace. Giannelloni’s account of the meeting describes an unprofessional encounter where Andrew allegedly appeared nude, an incident that has now become a point of inquiry for investigators looking into the "misconduct in public office" charges.

Scrutiny of Trade Envoy Trips and Offshore Firms

Manley’s role often required her to accompany Andrew on international diplomatic visits during his tenure as the U.K.’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. Authorities are currently examining whether Andrew used these taxpayer-funded trips to share improper information with Jeffrey Epstein. Additionally, fresh scrutiny has fallen on Inverness Asset Management, a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands that Andrew reportedly jointly owned between 2007 and 2019. Members of Parliament are now calling for a full investigation into whether this offshore entity served as a funding vehicle for Andrew's private lifestyle during his official government service.

The Legal Fallout Following the Death of Virginia Giuffre

The current criminal investigation follows years of civil litigation and public scandal. Although Andrew reached a settlement with Virginia Giuffre in 2022 regarding sexual assault allegations, the landscape shifted following Giuffre’s death by suicide in 2025. Her passing and the subsequent release of further documents have seemingly emboldened authorities to pursue criminal charges that were previously stalled. Andrew, now officially referred to as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor following the removal of his royal titles and HRH status in 2025, was detained for 11 hours on February 19, 2026, marking the first time a senior member of the Royal Family has been arrested in modern history.