Police Feared King Charles Could Intervene in Prince Andrew Raids, Documents Show

Police officers conducting raids on properties linked to Prince Andrew expressed concerns that he might attempt to halt the searches by invoking the authority of his brother, King Charles, according to legal documents.

Thames Valley Police secured warrants from an Old Bailey judge to search properties including Sandringham and Windsor. Officers were apprehensive that Andrew or his legal representatives could obstruct entry by stating the properties belonged to the King and that separate legal permission would be required. This concern stemmed from the potential for evidence to be lost if authorities were delayed in seeking access from Buckingham Palace.

The details emerged in legal documents related to Prince Andrew's challenge against Thames Valley Police over the raids, which the High Court later ruled were unlawful. The documents were released following a request by the Daily Mail.

During the application for the warrants, the Detective Chief Inspector overseeing the investigation informed the judge that Andrew was a "suspect in a number of serious offences." The DCI noted Prince Andrew's previous lack of engagement with other investigative strands related to his alleged involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. The officer emphasized the need to "secure relevant evidence in a timely and secure fashion" to prevent loss and maintain public trust.

The DCI stated that items in Andrew's possession were "likely to be of significant value to the investigation." Lacking certainty of gaining access without a warrant, the officer requested the judicial approval, expressing doubt that Andrew or his representatives would grant entry or might try to impede the searches.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC approved the search warrants. The raids occurred on February 19, the day after the applications were made. Six days of searches followed at Royal Lodge in Windsor and Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate.

In February, Prince Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and questioned for nearly 12 hours. The investigation is reportedly linked to his time as the UK's trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, with concerns raised about his sharing of government information with Jeffrey Epstein.

On October 8, it was revealed that Prince Andrew had won a judicial review challenging the legality of the police raids. The High Court agreed that the search warrants were unlawful, a decision formally quashed by Mr Justice Hilliard on July 22. Thames Valley Police acknowledged mistakes in their warrant applications and blamed the errors on the Old Bailey judge who approved them.

Despite the ruling, Thames Valley Police have applied to a judge for permission to retain documents and electronic devices seized during the raids, arguing for a legitimate reason to do so. This application is scheduled to be heard next year. The police maintain that their investigation will continue, though the return of seized items could significantly impact the probe.