Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor filed for judicial review to determine whether the circumstances surrounding his birthday arrest and home search warrants in Februarywere lawful.
The former prince, 66, is seeking to take legal action against the Thames Valley Police after he was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office and accused of sending confidential trade documents to Jeffrey Epstein, the Telegraph reported Sunday.
According to the outlet, a High Court judge approved the application, and a private hearing to determine if legal documents relating to the review will be released is scheduled for Thursday.
A senior London Metropolitan Police insider told the outlet that they were surprised to learn about Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest. The source questioned why authorities didn’t invite him to the police station for questioning first.
On Feb. 19, Mountbatten-Windsor was at his home on the Sandringham Estate in eastern England when he was taken to the Aylsham Police Station and held for 11 hours.
When he arrived at the station, an officer confirmed the ex-royal’s grounds for arrest were lawful. While in custody, he had his mugshot and fingerprints taken. He was also required to submit a saliva sample.
Additionally, police raided the Sandringham Estate and his former Berkshire property, the Royal Lodge, while Mountbatten-Windsor was away.
Following Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, King Charles issued a statement and expressed his “deepest concern” regarding the allegations against the Duke of York.
“What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities,” the 77-year-old monarch wrote.
“In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”
Mountbatten-Windsor was accused of sending Epstein reports about 2010 trips to Singapore and Vietnam during his time as the Special Representative for International Trade from 2001 to 2011.
If found guilty, Mountbatten-Windsor can be sentenced to a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Mountbatten-Windsor has continuously denied any wrongdoing despite having been friends with Epstein, who died in August 2019 at New York City’s Metropolitan Correctional Center while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
However, he resigned from his royal duties in 2019 due to the ongoing scrutiny, and in 2022 was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages.
In 2021, Mountbatten-Windsor was also accused of sexual abuse by Virginia Giuffre, which he has denied. They reached a settlement before her death in April 2025.
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