Police used unlawful warrants in former Prince Andrew property seizure, U.K. judge says

A London judge has ruled that the police search warrants used to seize properties belonging to the former Prince Andrew were unlawful, according to wire reports. Justice Nicholas Hilliard stated that the Thames Valley Police made a significant error when they applied for the warrants during the investigation into the former prince's connections to the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was a convicted sex offender.

The warrants were used to search two of the former prince's homes, and he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 19. His lawyers requested the judge to invalidate the warrants, and the parties agreed to do so before the hearing on Thursday. Prince Andrew was not present in court for the hearing. The judge's decision marks a preliminary step in a broader legal battle, as Prince Andrew and his legal team argue that the evidence obtained through the unlawful warrants should be excluded from any potential criminal trial.

Buckingham Palace has informed Prince Andrew that the king's private funds, which he continues to receive, cannot be used to support his efforts to challenge the search warrants. The police investigation initially centered on allegations that Prince Andrew shared sensitive information with Epstein while he served as a U.K. trade envoy, but police later indicated that they may also be looking into other matters.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who is 66 years old, was arrested for the first time in nearly four centuries, marking a significant moment in the royal family's history. The allegations against him emerged when the U.S. Justice Department released a trove of documents from its investigation into Epstein's alleged involvement in sex trafficking and his connections to a network of wealthy, powerful individuals.

Prince Andrew's ties to Epstein have been a source of embarrassment for the royal family for over a decade, with lawmakers raising concerns as far back as 2011. His role as the U.K.'s special trade envoy was ended in 2019 when he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for his continued association with Epstein, leading to the end of his working relationship within the royal family.