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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been reported to UK police following fresh allegations that he was involved in sex trafficking, claims he has consistently denied.

The report was made by anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, which says the alleged offences took place in 2010 and are therefore covered by the UK’s Sexual Offences Act 2003. The group has formally submitted the allegations to the Metropolitan Police, insisting officers now have a legal obligation to respond.

The new claims emerged after the recent release of court documents linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019. According to reports, a second woman — who was in her twenties at the time — has come forward alleging she was sent to the UK by Epstein for sexual exploitation.

The woman’s lawyer, Brad Edwards of the US law firm Edwards Henderson, told the BBC that the alleged encounter took place at Royal Lodge in Windsor, Prince Andrew’s former residence.

Republic argues that these allegations differ from earlier claims made by the late Virginia Giuffre, which related to events in 2001 and therefore fell outside the scope of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The campaign group says the 2010 allegations remove that legal barrier.

Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, criticised police inaction over past accusations involving Prince Andrew.

“The Metropolitan Police has ignored accusations against Andrew for more than two decades,” Smith said. “They have brought shame on the police, and have failed victims and the country. Now the police must act.”

Smith said he personally submitted the report to ensure the allegations were formally recorded as crimes alleged to have taken place in the UK.

“This isn’t a judgement on his guilt or innocence,” he added. “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.”

Andrew has repeatedly denied all allegations of wrongdoing and has previously stated that he has no recollection of meeting one of Epstein’s accusers. In 2022, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre in a US civil case, while maintaining his innocence.

The renewed scrutiny has prompted calls from senior political figures for further action. Keir Starmerbsaid Prince Andrew should testify, as lawyers representing Epstein’s victims warned that further damaging allegations could still emerge.

At the time of writing, the Metropolitan Police has not confirmed whether a criminal investigation has been opened.