Prince Andrew Claims Police Seized Personal Items During Epstein Investigation Raids
The former royal is challenging the legality of search warrants for his properties and alleges items unrelated to the investigation were taken.
Prince Andrew has alleged that police seized personal and confidential items unrelated to the investigation during raids on his properties earlier this year. The former royal is challenging the legality of the search warrants through a judicial review, marking the first time a member of the royal family has contested criminal proceedings in nearly 400 years.
Andrew is asking a High Court judge to determine if the warrants, used to search his cottage in Sandringham and his former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, on February 19—his 66th birthday—were lawful. If the court rules in his favor, police could be compelled to return all seized items, including those Andrew claims are personal.
Background of the Investigation
The legal challenge comes as police investigate Andrew for alleged misconduct in public office. This stems from suggestions that emails he sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein contained sensitive information. During the raids, plainclothes officers arrested Andrew and detained him for nearly 12 hours at Aylsham police station in Norfolk. He was released under investigation and has consistently denied any wrongdoing. This detention was reportedly the first time a royal had been held by police in over 350 years.
Legal Proceedings and Secrecy Concerns
Thames Valley Police have stated they are "engaged in legal proceedings in relation to warrants previously obtained from the Central Criminal Court" but declined to comment further on the latest developments. Police have also raised concerns about transparency, applying for a rule that would keep documents related to the judicial review case out of public view. A senior judge, Mr. Justice Hilliard, is scheduled to hear Andrew's application and decide whether the content of these documents will be accessible to the press and public, who are expected to be excluded, at least initially.
Court cases are typically held in public under the principle of open justice, unless there is a compelling reason otherwise.
Financial Support for Legal Fees
It was previously reported that King Charles has forbidden Andrew from using funds provided by the monarch as a private income source to cover his legal fees, which are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment, but royal sources indicated that the King has instructed Andrew not to use these funds for personal spending or security expenses.