Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor latest: Royal Lodge search to continue for days after ex-duke released from custody
Thames Valley Police will continue their search of Royal Lodge over the weekend
The police’s search of Royal Lodge will continue through to Monday following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s release from custody, Thames Valley Police has told The Independent.
On Thursday, the disgraced former prince was released under investigation following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was pictured slouched in the back of a vehicle leaving Aylsham police station on Thursday evening in Norfolk after being in custody for around 11 hours.
Police officers searched properties linked to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor after he was arrested at the Sandringham Estate.
Thames Valley Police said: “Searches in Berkshire are ongoing and are likely to be ongoing until Monday.”
The force is investigating claims that while serving as the UK’s trade envoy, he shared sensitive information with disgraced financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The claims emerged in a new tranche of emails in the so-called Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice.
In a statement, King Charles expressed “deepest concern” over his brother’s arrest.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to his connections to Epstein.
King Charles makes first public appearance after his brother’s arrest
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrest: History of his royal homes – from Wood Farm to Royal Lodge
Timeline of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s scandals as royal arrested on his birthday amid Epstein allegations
Andrew’s arrest brings this awful drama to its final act- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Jeffrey Epstein: How disgraced royal’s relationship with paedophile financier unfolded
Andrew's protection officers asked 'whether anything they saw or heard' is relevant to Epstein files review
The Met Police has asked former close protection officers to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to "consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard" may be relevant to the Metropolitan Police's review of the Epstein files, the force said.
Comment: The fall of the former Prince Andrew shows why we must always ‘follow the money’
In the book, All the President’s Men, author Bob Woodward says to Senator Sam Ervin: “The key was the secret campaign cash, and it should all be traced.”
When it came to the subsequent film on Woodward and his colleague Carl Bernstein’s investigation into the Watergate break-in and the downfall of Richard Nixon, screenwriter William Goldman deployed creative license. The “Deep Throat” tipping off Woodward tells him to “follow the money”.
No matter that it was never said. The three words stuck and have resonated down the decades ever since. In The Wire, detective Lester Freamon says, “You follow drugs, you get drug addicts and drug dealers. But you start to follow the money, and you don’t know where the f*** it’s gonna take you.”
Well, now it has taken the police to a house on the Sandringham Estate and the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on his birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Not for possible sex-trafficking – Andrew’s alleged misconduct could perhaps be linked to his chasing a lifestyle he did not have, for wealth he could not legitimately earn.
It may prove to be the same with Peter Mandelson. The ex-minister and lord might find himself arrested for the same misconduct offence. Always the money. In the millions of Epstein files, there is this email from the convicted sex offender to Mandelson: “I am disappointed in what appears to be a one-way street … Jeffrey, can I have, Jeffrey, can you give, Jeffrey, can you organise … you have yet to offer real assistance.”
The fall of the former Prince Andrew shows why we must always ‘follow the money’
This Morning's Ashley James breaks down in tears reacting to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest
This Morning star Ashley James broke down in tears during a segment on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, telling the show’s hosts she felt “a huge sense of relief” when the Royal was taken into custody.
In pictures: Journalists wait at the entrance gate of Sandringham Royal Estate
Princess Anne ducks questions on Andrew's arrest
Princess Anne has avoided questions surrounding her younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on Thursday.
Following a visit to Yorkshire Crisps on Friday, the Princess Royal ignored a reporter who asked from across the car park if she had spoken to her brother since his arrest.
Who is in line for the British throne?
Calls are growing for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the line of succession.
The disgraced prince, who was stripped of his royal titles last year, still sits at eighth in line for the throne.
Who is in line for the British throne?
1. William, Prince of Wales
2. Prince George of Wales (son of William)
3. Princess Charlotte of Wales (daughter of William)
4. Prince Louis of Wales (son of William)
5. Harry, Duke of Sussex
6. Prince Archie of Sussex (son of Harry)
7. Princess Lilibet of Sussex (daughter of Harry)
8. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
9. Princess Beatrice (daughter of Mountbatten-Windsor)
10. Sienna Mapelli Mozzi (daughter of Princess Beatrice)
11. Athena Mapelli Mozzi (daughter of Princess Beatrice)
12. Princess Eugenie (daughter of Mountbatten-Windsor)
13. August Brooksbank (son of Princess Eugenie)
14. Ernest Brooksbank (son of Princess Eugenie)
15. Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
16. James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex (son of Edward)
17. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor (daughter of Edward)
18. Anne, Princess Royal
19. Peter Phillips (son of Anne)
20. Savannah Phillips (daughter of Peter Phillips)
21. Isla Phillips (daughter of Peter Phillips)
22. Zara Tindall (daughter of Anne)
23. Mia Tindall (daughter of Zara Tindall)
24. Lena Tindall (daughter of Zara Tindall)
25. Lucas Tindall (son of Zara Tindall)
Search of Royal Lodge will continue over weekend
Police will continue searching the Royal Lodge until Monday, Thames Valley Police has told The Independent.
On Thursday morning, police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office at the Sandringham Estate and began carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
”Searches in Berkshire are ongoing and are likely to be ongoing until Monday,” Thames Valley Police said.
Photographer behind viral photo of slumped Andrew leaving police station speaks out
Slumped in the car seat of his Range Rover attempting to avoid attention from the gathering photographers and journalists, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stares ahead of him as his vehicle leaves Aylsham police station.
The photo, taken by Reuters photographer Phil Noble, instantly went viral across the world when it was published on Thursday evening.
The photo shows Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after he was released under investigation following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Upon news that King Charles III’s younger brother had been arrested broke early on Thursday, Manchester-based Noble began the six-hour drive south to Norfolk to cover the major story.
Journalists knew the former prince had been arrested in Norfolk - the county that is home to the royal Sandringham estate where he resides.
Since officers from Thames Valley Police were questioning him, there were potentially 20 or more police stations where he could have been held.
Photographer behind viral slumped Andrew photo speaks out
Timeline of Thursday's events
- 8am: Thames Valley Police (TVP) arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office at the Sandringham Estate and began carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
- 10.03am: The force published a press release confirming the arrest of “a man in his sixties from Norfolk”, who was taken into custody.
- Midday: King Charles issued a statement about his brother’s arrest, saying: “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”
- 7.31pm: TVP provided an update on the investigation, saying that they had released the arrested man under investigation, adding that searches in Norfolk had finished, but searches in Berkshire were ongoing.
Inside the police’s secret operation to arrest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Former prince spent much of his 66th birthday in police custody and would have been treated like any other suspect, experts say. Read the full story below.
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