British police have warned that the investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles, is expected to be lengthy and highly complex as detectives examine allegations linked to his former public role and information emerging from files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
The 66-year-old was arrested at his Norfolk home in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office following the release of millions of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice connected to Epstein. He was later questioned for several hours under caution by detectives.
The arrest of the senior royal, who is eighth in line to the British throne, marked an unprecedented moment in modern royal history. Mountbatten-Windsor, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and has previously expressed regret over their friendship. He has not made any public statements since his arrest.
Investigation Described as “Hugely Thorough”
Speaking to reporters, Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said investigators were conducting an extensive review of the evidence and that the process would not be completed quickly.
“The investigation is by necessity hugely thorough and will take time,” Wright said. “It’s not going to be a quick investigation by any means.”
The inquiry is focusing on Mountbatten-Windsor’s tenure as the UK’s special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011. Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly suggested he may have shared sensitive information with Epstein.
However, police stressed that misconduct in public office can encompass a wide range of alleged offences, including the disclosure of confidential information, corruption or sexual misconduct.
Wright said investigators had received a significant amount of information from members of the public and other sources and were interviewing numerous witnesses as part of the inquiry.
Additional Allegations Under Review
Police are also assessing reports involving a woman who was allegedly taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes. The claim emerged after a lawyer representing the alleged victim told the BBC that she had been sent to Britain by Epstein for a sexual encounter with the former prince.
According to police, detectives have spoken with the lawyer involved, but the woman herself has not yet formally reported any offence.
Wright acknowledged that some potential victims may be reluctant to come forward because of the intense public and international attention surrounding the case.
“In terms of Epstein victims and survivors, we hope that anyone with relevant information will come forward,” he said, adding that specialist officers are available whenever individuals are ready to engage with investigators.
Cooperation With U.S. Authorities
The investigation is being handled by a specialist team and is being treated as a major crime inquiry, comparable in scale and complexity to a murder investigation.
British authorities have been liaising with the U.S. Department of Justice in an effort to obtain material related to the Epstein files, although Wright said the documents had not yet been received.
“That is ongoing, and it’s a fairly complex thing to do, but we’re working very hard on that,” he said.
The developments come after the British government released confidential documents concerning Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy, revealing that the late Queen Elizabeth had advocated for him to receive the position.
King Charles, who stripped his brother of his royal titles and honors last October, said following the arrest that authorities had the royal family’s “full and wholehearted support and cooperation.”
Meanwhile, other British police forces are also reviewing information connected to the Epstein files. Earlier this week, Surrey Police confirmed it was investigating two separate allegations of child sexual abuse dating from the 1980s through to around 2000, although no further details were disclosed.
