A London judge will conduct a hearing on Thursday concerning Prince Andrew’s challenge to search warrants executed at his residences as part of an investigation into his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Justice Nicholas Hilliard is expected to hear a request from the police department that conducted the searches to limit public access to relevant court documents. The proceedings will commence in private, with any rulings to be announced in open court.
Thames Valley Police arrested the former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on Feb. 19, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Officers subsequently searched two of his homes. His legal team is now seeking to have the warrants quashed in the High Court.
If the court sides with Mountbatten-Windsor, it could potentially prevent authorities from using any evidence obtained during the searches in a future prosecution, according to attorney Mark Stephens. Stephens described the hearing as an initial legal maneuver, stating, “It’s the first step of Prince Andrew and his lawyers saying, ‘Actually, this is tainted evidence. It was obtained inappropriately,’’’ Stephens said. “Therefore it should be excluded from any criminal trial.”
King Charles III removed Mountbatten-Windsor’s princely title last year in an effort to insulate the royal family from the ongoing repercussions of his brother's associations with Epstein. Although Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, continues to receive financial support from the King's private funds, Buckingham Palace has indicated that these funds cannot be used for his legal challenge to the search warrants.
The police investigation initially centered on claims that Mountbatten-Windsor might have shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as a U.K. trade envoy. However, police have stated that they are open to considering other matters as well.
Authorities questioned Mountbatten-Windsor for 11 hours before releasing him pending further investigation. He has not been charged with any offense, nor has he been cleared.
This situation marks the first time in nearly 400 years that a senior British royal has been arrested, highlighting a perceived erosion of deference to the monarchy in recent years.
Thames Valley Police confirmed that its investigation is ongoing and acknowledged its involvement in the legal proceedings regarding the search warrants. A police spokesperson declined to provide further comment while the legal proceedings are active.
The allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor gained public attention when the U.S. Justice Department released numerous documents from its investigation into sex trafficking operations conducted by Epstein and his network of influential associates.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s relationship with Epstein has been a source of concern for the royal family for over a decade. Lawmakers raised questions about the association as early as 2011, leading to the prince relinquishing his role as the U.K.’s special trade envoy. His ties to Epstein continued to draw scrutiny, and a BBC interview in 2019 where he failed to adequately address his relationship with Epstein ultimately led to his departure from royal duties.