Judge Rules Search Warrants for Former Prince Andrew's Homes Unlawful

A judge in London’s High Court ruled on Thursday that search warrants used to raid two homes of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, were unlawful.

High Court Justice Nicholas Hilliard stated that Thames Valley Police had made a error in applying for the warrants and that police had agreed the search warrants were unlawful. The warrants were issued by a judge at the Old Bailey on February 18, leading to Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest on his 66th birthday on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Police searched his properties at Wood Farm in Sandringham and Royal Lodge in Windsor. Mountbatten-Windsor was questioned for 12 hours before being released under investigation and has not been charged. Thames Valley Police accepted the court’s decision, stating, "We accept the position that the initial court’s decision to issue warrants under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect and therefore, these must be legally quashed."

Despite the warrants being quashed, both the judge and police stressed that the criminal investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor remains ongoing. Legal proceedings are currently underway to decide how material seized during the searches will be managed and whether police can lawfully retain it in support of their investigation. Police said they had not returned any material to Mountbatten-Windsor other than that not deemed connected to their investigation.

The investigation began after the release of millions of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice relating to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor was suspected of leaking confidential government documents to Epstein when he was a British trade representative between 2001 and 2011. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and expressed regret for their friendship. King Charles III stripped Mountbatten-Windsor of his princely title last year.