Former Prince Andrew takes police to court over Epstein files arrest

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) is taking the police who arrested him earlier this year over the Epstein files to court. The issue reportedly involves the search warrants used to facilitate his arrest, with his lawyers challenging their legality. The search warrants allowed authorities to go through two of his houses during the investigation into his ties with Jeffrey Epstein.

A spokesperson for the judiciary allegedly confirmed that Mountbatten-Windsor had indeed submitted a claim to the High Court of London. A hearing is set for Thursday.

Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest shocked the world

The former Prince Andrew was the first modern British Royal to be arrested, and the images of him hiding in the back of a police vehicle were soon everywhere, sending shockwaves throughout the globe. The arrest was, of course, related to the U.S.’s release of the Epstein Files. Mountbatten-Windsor was detained on suspected misconduct in public office following allegations that while he was acting as the U.K.’s trade envoy, Mountbatten-Windsor had passed sensitive information to Epstein (something Buckingham Palace reportedly knew about).

The two men had been linked together for years and subjected to intense speculation and press coverage. Mountbatten-Windsor always denied wrongdoing; however, his relationship with Epstein had long embarrassed the royal family. Eventually, in 2019, he was made to give up his royal duties because of it, and later he lost his titles as well.

When he was arrested, authorities questioned him for around 11 hours before releasing him; this meant he was neither exonerated nor charged. The searches mentioned in the new court filings also took place then. It was all unseemly enough that King Charles did something almost unheard of and released a statement that said in part: “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”

Thames Valley Police reportedly said its investigation is still in progress, even as it deals with the upcoming proceedings related to the warrants.

What these legal proceedings could mean

According to the AP News, the Daily Telegraph first reported on Mountbatten-Windsor’s court filings. Allegedly, these proceedings will determine whether Thames Valley Police acted lawfully when they searched his homes on King Charles III’s Sandringham estate and near Windsor Castle.

If the court decides to rule in the former prince’s favor, it could mean that authorities could no longer use any evidence they discovered during the searches in prosecuting Mountbatten-Windsor (if prosecution were to occur). Mark Stephens, of London’s Howard Kennedy firm, predicted this hearing would be just the first of many.

Stephens allegedly explained, “I think the most important thing to take away from this is it shows that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his lawyers are taking this search warrant and the potential for charges extremely seriously. And I think that telegraphs that perhaps there’s more of this to come. And perhaps charges will be preferred down the road.”

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