The former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was subjected to a police search just hours after his release from custody. The arrest stemmed from suspicions of misconduct in public office, a consequence of his long-documented ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Royal Lodge, a sprawling 30-room residence nestled in the parkland near Windsor Castle, was the focus of the search. For decades, it served as Mountbatten-Windsor’s primary home, until his brother, King Charles, requested he vacate the property earlier this month.
Unmarked vans, strongly believed to be police vehicles, were observed entering the Royal Lodge grounds. This followed an earlier search of Wood Farm, a temporary residence used while his new home was being prepared.
Mountbatten-Windsor is now residing at Marsh Farm, a property on the Sandringham estate – King Charles’ private retreat, located roughly 185 kilometers north of London. The move came after a prolonged period of uncertainty following his eviction from Royal Lodge.
The former prince endured eleven hours of questioning by authorities before being released. A photograph quickly circulated, depicting a visibly subdued Mountbatten-Windsor slouched in the back of his chauffeur-driven car after leaving the police station near Sandringham.
Despite his release, the investigation remains active. Thames Valley Police have neither formally charged nor cleared Mountbatten-Windsor, leaving his future uncertain. The scrutiny follows years of mounting allegations regarding his relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019.
Newly released documents from the U.S. Department of Justice revealed a series of emails suggesting Mountbatten-Windsor shared official reports with Epstein. These reports detailed visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore.
One email, dated November 2010, appeared to be forwarded to Epstein just five minutes after Mountbatten-Windsor received it. Weeks later, another email allegedly contained a confidential briefing on investment opportunities within the reconstruction of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Authorities clarified that Thursday’s arrest was not directly linked to the Thames Valley Police investigation into allegations of a woman being trafficked to the U.K. for sexual encounters with Mountbatten-Windsor. Separate police forces are pursuing their own investigations into Epstein’s broader network of connections within the United Kingdom.
Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his association with Epstein. However, the ongoing investigations and the release of damaging documents continue to fuel public scrutiny and cast a long shadow over his reputation.
