Police feared Andrew would delay search by saying King owned his home, documents show

Thames Valley Police were worried that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, also known as Prince Andrew, might have attempted to impede their search of his homes in Sandringham and Windsor by claiming the properties belonged to King Charles, according to legal documents. Senior officers were concerned that the King's brother could argue the Sandringham Estate was not his property, requiring separate legal permission before officers could enter.

Delaying access could have jeopardized crucial evidence, the force asserted. The arrest of Mountbatten-Windsor in February emerged from legal documents where police sought warrants to raid his homes. Lawyers for Mountbatten-Windsor successfully challenged the warrants' legality in court last week. Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest followed the US Department of Justice's release of material revealing his connections to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

On February 19, Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The police obtained search warrants for Wood Farm in Sandringham and Royal Lodge in Windsor, fearing Mountbatten-Windsor or his legal team might demand judicial authorization, slowing down the search process. The police were also concerned about potential delays due to no one being present at the properties and media attention.

The documents provide details of the information police sought, including documents related to Mountbatten-Windsor's role as Special Representative for Trade and Investment, evidence of his actions following the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related material, and claims he had briefed Epstein on investment opportunities in Afghanistan.

The legal documents were revealed after a High Court hearing where Thames Valley Police admitted the warrants used for the search were unlawful, but the investigation continues.