LONDON — Thames Valley Police have admitted that the search warrants used to raid the homes of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor earlier this year were unlawful, marking a significant legal setback for investigators in the ongoing probe into the King’s brother.
The admission came on Thursday following a successful court challenge launched by Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal titles last year. The warrants were originally executed on his 66th birthday in February, a day that also saw the former royal arrested by authorities. Despite the arrest, he has not been charged with any offense and continues to maintain his innocence regarding all allegations.
The police investigation centers on claims of misconduct in public office, specifically concerning Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor’s tenure as a UK trade commissioner between 2001 and 2011. The probe was initiated following the release of documents from the “Epstein files,” a massive cache of evidence gathered by US authorities regarding the late billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
During Thursday’s hearing at the High Court, it was revealed that legal errors occurred during the application process at The Old Bailey, where a judge originally granted the warrants. In a statement following the proceedings, a spokesperson for Thames Valley Police confirmed they accepted the court’s determination that the warrants were technically flawed.
“We accept the position that the initial court’s decision to issue warrants under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect and therefore these must be legally quashed,” the spokesperson said. However, the force signaled that the investigation is far from over. They are currently seeking a retrospective order to retain the material seized during the February raids, arguing that the invalidity of the warrants does not render the entire investigation void.
Mr. Justice Hillard, presiding over the case, echoed this sentiment, stating: “The fact that the search warrants were quashed does not bring an investigation to an end, or mean that the whole of the investigation was unlawful.”
Legal experts have criticized the police for the procedural lapse. Prominent criminal lawyer Nick Vamos told the BBC that it was “embarrassing” for law enforcement to commit such a fundamental error in a matter of this profile. “This should have gone under so many noses before it went to court that it’s really amazing that they still managed to make a basic error,” Vamos noted.
The investigation into the King’s brother is multifaceted. Beyond the misconduct allegations, police have previously stated they are assessing reports of sex offenses. These include historical allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, Epstein’s primary accuser, who claimed the former prince raped her when she was 17. Ms. Giuffre died by suicide last year, and Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied all wrongdoing.
Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor, who has relocated to the Sandringham Estate since his departure from the Royal Lodge, did not attend Thursday’s hearing. Legal proceedings regarding the management and retention of the evidence seized by police are expected to continue.
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