Police say warrants for searches linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were issued unlawfully

London, United Kingdom. British police said on Thursday that warrants used to search properties linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had been issued unlawfully and must be quashed. The investigation into King Charles’ younger brother remains ongoing.

Arrest and searches

Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his relationship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Police searched properties in Sandringham, eastern England, and Windsor.

The arrest of the senior royal, who is eighth in line to the throne, was unprecedented in modern times. A Reuters photograph showing the ashen-faced former prince leaving the police station appeared on front pages around the world.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who has made no public comment since his arrest, subsequently launched a legal challenge and applied to have the search warrants quashed.

Police accept warrants were improperly granted

Thames Valley Police said it accepted that the courts had not properly granted the warrants.

“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,” a force spokesperson said.

“Legal proceedings are currently ongoing to decide how material seized during the searches will be managed and whether we can lawfully retain it in support of our ongoing investigation.”

Dispute over seized material

At a hearing at London’s High Court on Thursday, Judge Nicholas Hilliard said police were applying to retain the seized property and that Mountbatten-Windsor opposed the application. The issue would not be settled until next year, he said.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said no material had been returned to Mountbatten-Windsor other than items deemed unrelated to the investigation.

The quashing of the warrants does not halt the investigation, which began after the US Department of Justice released millions of documents relating to Epstein.