Police Worried Royal Permission Could Derail Searches of Andrew’s Homes (10/19/26)

Newly released High Court documents showed that Thames Valley Police feared Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could obstruct searches of his properties by arguing that officers needed permission from King Charles because the residences or property belonged to the Crown. Police searched Royal Lodge in Windsor and Andrew’s home on the Sandringham Estate in February while investigating allegations that he improperly shared sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as the UK’s special representative for trade and investment. Investigators specifically sought paperwork, diaries, business records and other documents connected to Andrew’s official work, telling the judge who issued the warrants that advance notice or attempts to obtain royal permission could jeopardize the investigation or lead to the loss of evidence. The filings said police regarded Andrew as a suspect in several serious offences, including allegations that he forwarded official reports concerning overseas trade missions to Epstein within minutes of receiving them.

The searches have since become the subject of a significant legal fight because Thames Valley Police conceded that the warrants used to raid Andrew’s properties were unlawful. Andrew, who was arrested on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released under investigation, denied wrongdoing and challenged both the searches and the police justification for conducting them without first seeking his cooperation. His lawyers argued that officers never contacted Andrew or his legal team to ask for voluntary access and disputed suggestions that he could not be trusted to cooperate. Police, meanwhile, have asked the court for permission to retain evidence seized during the unlawful searches, a request Andrew is opposing. That question is expected to be decided at a private hearing in 2027, leaving both the fate of the seized material and the broader criminal investigation unresolved.



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Police feared Andrew would block searches by demanding King’s permission | The Independent