Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor launches High Court challenge over Epstein arrest warrants

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has launched a legal action against Thames Valley Police over his arrest in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, after Britain’s Daily Telegraph first reported the move on Sunday.

According to the Telegraph, he has lodged a judicial review in connection with the search warrants that allowed police to raid his home on the Sandringham estate and his former residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Britain’s judicial office confirmed on Monday that a private High Court hearing will be held on Thursday to determine whether court documents relating to the judicial review should be made public. Thames Valley Police confirmed it was “engaged in legal proceedings in relation to warrants previously obtained from the Central Criminal Court” and would not comment further.

Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of leaking government documents to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when he was Britain’s special representative for trade between 2001 and 2011. He was questioned all day by detectives and later released under investigation. He has denied any wrongdoing and said he regrets the friendship.

The Telegraph reported it is the first time a member of the royal family has challenged the lawfulness of criminal proceedings against them since the trial of King Charles I in 1649. The former prince was forced to quit all official royal duties in 2019 over his ties to Epstein and was stripped of his titles and honours last October.