British law enforcement officials announced Friday that their criminal investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will require considerable time and resources, following the royal family member’s arrest earlier this year on charges of misconduct in public office.
The younger sibling of King Charles was taken into custody at his Norfolk residence in February and questioned for several hours by investigators. His arrest came after the U.S. Department of Justice released millions of documents connected to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The detention of the 66-year-old royal, who holds eighth position in the line of succession, marked an extraordinary moment in contemporary British history. International media outlets featured photographs of the former prince departing the police facility.
Mountbatten-Windsor, the second child of the late Queen Elizabeth, has consistently rejected allegations of any improper conduct regarding Epstein, though he has acknowledged regretting their association. He has remained silent publicly since his arrest.
“The investigation is by necessity hugely thorough and will take time,” Oliver Wright, Assistant Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, who are carrying out the inquiry, told reporters. “It’s not going to be a quick investigation by any means.”
Investigators are examining the former prince’s duties as special representative for trade and investment from 2001 to 2011, with correspondence from the DOJ indicating he may have disclosed sensitive information to Epstein.
The misconduct charge, which can result in life imprisonment, encompasses various forms of serious wrongdoing including information breaches, corruption, and sexual impropriety.
“There’s a number of aspects of alleged misconduct that the investigation is examining. So we’re speaking with a range of witnesses,” said Wright, who followed British protocol by not naming Mountbatten-Windsor directly, as is standard practice before formal charges are filed.
Wright reported that authorities have gathered “a significant amount of information” from citizens and various sources, emphasizing the investigation’s complexity.
Officers are also examining claims that a woman was brought to a Windsor location in 2010 for sexual purposes, after legal representation for the alleged victim informed the BBC that Epstein had arranged for her to travel to Britain for a sexual encounter with the former prince.
While investigators have interviewed the attorney, the woman herself has not yet filed a formal complaint. British authorities noted that some potential victims may hesitate to come forward due to intense media scrutiny.
“In terms of Epstein victims and survivors, we hope that anyone with relevant information will come forward and I really want to stress that our door is open whenever a victim survivor is ready to engage with us. We’re ready for you at whatever point that may be,” Wright said.
A specialized team of veteran officers is handling the case, which has been classified as a major crime equivalent to a homicide investigation. They are coordinating with the U.S. Department of Justice but have not yet obtained the Epstein documents.
“That is ongoing, and it’s a fairly complex thing to do, but we’re working very hard on that,” Wright said.
On Thursday, the British government disclosed confidential records regarding Mountbatten-Windsor’s trade envoy appointment, revealing that the late queen had advocated for his selection to the position.
King Charles, who removed his brother’s titles and honors last October, expressed deep concern about the arrest and stated that authorities have the family’s “full and wholehearted support and cooperation.”
Thames Valley is not the sole British police department investigating potential crimes related to the Epstein files.
Surrey police announced Tuesday that they are examining two allegations of child sexual abuse, one reportedly occurring in the 1980s and another from the mid-1990s to 2000. Officials provided no additional information about the individuals involved.
