Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is taking legal action against UK police over his arrest. He wants a judge to review the warrants’ lawfulness.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has launched legal action against Thames Valley Police over his arrest earlier this year in connection with the Epstein files, requesting a judicial review into whether the force’s actions were lawful. The development was first reported by The Telegraph on Sunday.
Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, King Charles III’s younger brother and formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following the release of millions of pages of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice related to Jeffrey Epstein. He was taken to Aylsham Police Station and questioned for nearly 12 hours before being released under investigation; no charges have been filed, and police have said the investigation remains ongoing. His legal team is expected to examine whether the search warrants, granted by a judge at the Old Bailey following a Thames Valley Police application, were lawfully obtained.
Thames Valley Police confirmed Monday it was “engaged in legal proceedings in relation to warrants previously obtained from the Central Criminal Court,” declining to comment further while the case remains active. The investigation originated from allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential trade information with Epstein in 2010, while serving as the UK’s special trade envoy; police said in May the probe would also examine allegations of sexual misconduct. King Charles III issued a statement following the February arrest saying “the law must take its course,” and formally stripped his brother of his royal and noble titles last year over his ties to Epstein. Some reports suggest the police investigation has faced obstacles after the U.S. Department of Justice failed to hand over an unredacted version of the Epstein files.
This report is based on information from CNN, ABC News Australia, LBC and Newsweek.