Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wins High Court ruling as police accept search warrants were unlawful
The High Court has quashed search warrants executed at two of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's homes in February after Thames Valley Police admitted they were granted under the wrong legislation; the criminal investigation continues.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has won his High Court battle against Thames Valley Police after the force admitted that search warrants executed at two of his homes earlier this year were granted unlawfully.
At a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday, which Andrew did not attend, Mr Justice Hilliard said “agreement was reached between the claimant and Thames Valley Police” that the search warrants were unlawful.
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson accepted that the initial court’s decision to issue the warrants under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect, and that they “must be legally quashed”.
The judge stressed that the ruling did not end the criminal investigation, noting that quashing the warrants “does not bring an investigation to an end”. Separate proceedings are under way over how material seized in the raids is managed and whether police can lawfully retain it.
The warrants were granted by a judge at the Old Bailey on 18 February, allowing officers to search his residence on the Sandringham Estate and his former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February following allegations that he shared sensitive information with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his time as Britain’s trade envoy. He denies any wrongdoing and has said he regrets the friendship.
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