Prince Andrew's Property Search Warrants Deemed Unlawful by Judge

A London judge has declared the search warrants used to seize property from Prince Andrew unlawful, a significant development in the ongoing investigation into his connections with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Justice Nicholas Hilliard stated on Thursday that Thames Valley Police committed a "significant error" in their application for the warrants.

The warrants were executed on two of the former prince's homes following his arrest on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's legal team subsequently petitioned the High Court to invalidate these warrants. Hilliard noted that both parties had agreed to the invalidation of the warrants prior to Thursday's hearing.

Thames Valley Police acknowledged that the warrants were erroneously granted and must be quashed. "Legal proceedings are currently ongoing to decide how material seized during the searches will be managed and whether we can lawfully retain it in support of our ongoing investigation," a police spokesperson stated.

Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, was not present for the hearing. Mark Stephens, a lawyer at Howard Kennedy, characterized the proceedings as an initial step in a larger legal battle. "It's the first step of Prince Andrew and his lawyers saying, ‘Actually, this is tainted evidence. It was obtained inappropriately,'" Stephens commented. "Therefore it should be excluded from any criminal trial."

King Charles III previously stripped Mountbatten-Windsor of his princely title as part of efforts to distance the royal family from the Epstein scandal. While he continues to receive funds from the king's private accounts, Buckingham Palace has indicated these funds cannot be used to finance his legal challenge against the search warrants.

The investigation initially centered on allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor shared sensitive information with Epstein during his tenure as the U.K.'s special trade envoy. However, police later indicated that other matters could also be considered. Mountbatten-Windsor was questioned for 11 hours before being released under investigation, meaning he faced no charges and was not exonerated.

This marks the first time in nearly 400 years that a senior British royal has been arrested. The allegations surfaced following the U.S. Justice Department's release of documents related to its investigation into Epstein's sex trafficking operations and his network of associates. Mountbatten-Windsor's association with Epstein has been a persistent source of controversy for the royal family for over a decade, leading to scrutiny from lawmakers as early as 2011 and a damaging BBC interview in 2019 that effectively ended his career as a working royal.