Judge Rules Search Warrants Used Against Prince Andrew Were Unlawful (10/9/26)

A London High Court judge ruled that the search warrants used by Thames Valley Police to raid the homes of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, were unlawful because police sought them under the wrong section of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. The warrants were executed in February 2026 after Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office tied to his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, with police searching properties at Sandringham and Windsor and seizing documents, computers and other material. Justice Nicholas Hilliard said the applications contained a significant legal error because some of the material being sought potentially fell into categories requiring a different warrant procedure. Andrew’s lawyers challenged the searches through judicial review, and police ultimately accepted that the warrants should be quashed.

The ruling was a meaningful legal victory for Andrew, but it did not end the criminal investigation or amount to a finding that the underlying allegations were unfounded. Police said their investigation into possible misconduct in public office remains active, and the High Court specifically emphasized that invalidating the warrants did not invalidate the investigation itself. The next major fight concerns what happens to the material police seized under those unlawful warrants: authorities are seeking permission to retain at least some of it, with further proceedings expected to determine whether it can still be lawfully used. The investigation grew out of renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s dealings with Epstein while Andrew served as Britain’s trade envoy, including allegations stemming from released Epstein-related records that he shared sensitive or official information with Epstein. Andrew has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged.



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Judge says search warrants used to seize property from former Prince Andrew were unlawful