Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles, is seeking to bring before the courts the way British police acted toward him after his arrest in February. At the center of the clash are the legality of the arrest and searches at his properties, in a case that once again puts his links to Jeffrey Epstein in the spotlight.
Lawsuit against police after arrest
According to documents published by the U.S. Department of Justice and reporting by the Telegraph, Mountbatten-Windsor has gone to court to assess whether the actions of Thames Valley Police were lawful.
He is challenging the arrest carried out on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a step that shifts the case from the criminal investigation to judicial scrutiny of the procedures used by the authorities.
The suspicions under investigation
According to the police version, the former prince is suspected of leaking government documents to Jeffrey Epstein during the period when he served as special trade envoy, from 2001 to 2011.
After the arrest in February, he was questioned by Thames Valley Police officers. Authorities have said the investigation is linked to suspicions that the documents were given to the American financier while Andrew held that public role.
Searches of his properties are also being contested
According to the Telegraph, Mountbatten-Windsor has also sought judicial review of the warrants that gave police the right to search his home in Sandringham and the former residence Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Reuters reported that it was unable to independently confirm these details, leaving room for uncertainty over the full scope of the procedural actions being challenged.
Buckingham stays silent, Andrew denies wrongdoing
Thames Valley Police and Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
For his part, Mountbatten-Windsor denies any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. He has previously expressed regret over his friendship with the American financier, convicted of sex crimes, but has rejected claims of unlawful involvement.
A crisis that has damaged his status for years
Andrew’s links to Epstein have had continuing consequences for his position within the royal family. In 2019, he stepped back from official duties after the controversy that erupted around his relationship with Epstein.
In October last year, King Charles stripped his brother of his royal titles and honors, following further revelations that put the matter back at the center of public and institutional debate.
The latest court move shows that the battle is no longer only about the reputation of the prince cast out from court, but also about how police justify their interventions in a case of high public importance.
For now, two main questions remain open: whether the arrest and searches pass the test of legality, and how far the investigation into the Epstein case really goes.