Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor smirking behind the wheel of Range Rover hours before Epstein files drop

Andrew's link to Jeffrey Epstein has led to his downfall in public life, with the former Duke of York consistently denying any wrongdoing.

Andrew appeared in one of the latest collections of photos released by the Democrats in the US, pictured with Bill Gates. The appearance of individuals in the photographs is not a suggestion of any wrongdoing.

The image released by the Democrats sparked confusion due to it being an old photo of the former prince with Mr Gates, with the King appearing to be cropped out.

The picture is readily available from the photo agency Getty Images and was taken by the professional photographer Dominic Lipinski.

Files on disgraced paedophile financier Epstein will not be released in their entirety before the legal deadline, the US deputy attorney general said.

Todd Blanche said "several hundred thousand" documents from the so-called "Epstein files" will be released today, but said the need to protect the sex offender's victims meant thousands more would be released over the coming weeks.

The US Department of Justice is legally obligated to make all files related to the Epstein investigation public by midnight on Friday, following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The paedophile financier was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.

US President Donald Trump signed the legislation last month to ensure the release of the files, despite previously resisting disclosure and claiming the issue was a "Democrat hoax".

Speaking ahead of the release, Mr Blanche told Fox News: "I expect that we're going to release several hundred thousand documents today.

"And those documents will come in in all different forms, photographs and other materials associated with, with all of the investigations into Mr Epstein."

Explaining why there may be a delay, Mr Blanche said: "What we're doing is we are looking at every single piece of paper that we are going to produce, making sure that every victim, their name, their identity, their story, to the extent it needs to be protected, is completely protected.

"And so I expect that we're going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks.

"So today, several hundred thousand and then over the next couple (of) weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more."

Andrew has been in the headlines recently after the Metropolitan Police decided not to investigate claims that he asked his taxpayer-funded bodyguard to dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre.

Scotland Yard announced it would not launch an investigation after assessing the reports published in October.

Ms Giuffre's family said: "We are deeply disappointed that the Metropolitan Police have dropped their investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor without explanation and without speaking with us, Virginia's family."

Central Specialist Crime Commander Ella Marriott said the force would not launch an investigation after assessing the claims.

Commander Marriott confirmed the "assessment has not revealed any additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct".

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter