Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor challenges warrants used to search his homes

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has gone to court to challenge the warrants police used to search two of his homes after his arrest in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday as the police investigation continues.

The former prince has filed a judicial review seeking to quash the warrants for searches at Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate and Royal Lodge, his former home on the Windsor estate. A judicial spokesperson confirmed to NPR that he had filed a claim with the High Court in London.

Thames Valley Police confirmed it was involved in the case. “We are engaged in legal proceedings in relation to warrants previously obtained from the Central Criminal Court,” the force said. It declined further comment while the proceedings are underway.

The warrants were issued on Feb. 18, the day before Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, the BBC reported. His challenge names the chief constable of Thames Valley Police and the Central Criminal Court. The hearing is set to begin in private on Thursday afternoon, when a judge will first consider a police request to keep some documents private, according to the BBC.

Police searched both properties for several days after the arrest. Mountbatten-Windsor was taken into custody on his 66th birthday and later released under investigation. NPR reported that officers questioned him for 11 hours; his release meant he was neither charged nor exonerated.

The arrest followed the U.S. Justice Department’s release of documents from its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender. Among the material were emails appearing to show Mountbatten-Windsor sharing official documents with Epstein and others while serving as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy, according to the BBC. The allegations prompted the investigation into possible misconduct in public office.

Thames Valley Police says that investigation is continuing. In an earlier update, the force said it was “working with the United States Department of Justice to get further information that may be related to this investigation,” the BBC reported. Detectives have also said allegations of sexual misconduct could be considered as part of the inquiry, according to the BBC.

Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein. He gave up royal duties in 2019, and King Charles later stripped his younger brother of his titles as prince and Duke of York. The BBC reported that emails had shown Mountbatten-Windsor maintained contact with Epstein beyond the point at which he had publicly said their links had ended.

After the arrest, Charles said the investigation should proceed without interference. “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,” he said. “As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.”