King Charles Bans Andrew from Using Private Funds for Legal Battle, Sources Say
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor launched a legal challenge against Thames Valley Police earlier this year, resulting in search warrants executed on his properties being quashed, news.com.au reported.
High Court Rules Police Search Warrants Unlawful
The legal action taken by the former prince challenged the legality of two search warrants issued by the Central Criminal Court. Consequently, the High Court formalized an agreement on July 22 to legally quash the warrants.
The police force seized documents and electronic devices during raids at Royal Lodge in Windsor and his new home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The BBC reported that Andrew’s lawyers used a judicial review to challenge the actions of the force’s chief constable and the Central Criminal Court.
Police Investigate Andrew for Misconduct in Public Office
Despite the successful challenge against the search warrants, Andrew remains under active criminal investigation. Thames Valley Police arrested him on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, though he has not been charged and denies all allegations of wrongdoing. The arrest followed the US Department of Justice’s release of millions of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s network, which raised suspicions that the former trade envoy had forwarded confidential government information to the late sex offender in 2010.
A closed-door court hearing took place on Thursday afternoon, UK time, where lawyers debated the fate of the seized materials. Thames Valley Police confirmed that legal proceedings are ongoing to decide how the seized material will be managed and whether law enforcement can lawfully retain it. According to the BBC, the force must convince a judge that the documents and devices hold substantial value for their investigation into alleged misconduct in public office by a man in his sixties from Norfolk.
King Charles Forbids Funding for Andrew's Court Fees
King Charles III has chosen to privately fund his brother’s life following his exile from royal duties, but a major caveat governs the financial arrangement. Buckingham Palace sources revealed that the monarch has forbidden Andrew from using any of his funds to pay for his court fees. Buckingham Palace maintained that the legal battle is a private matter strictly between Andrew and his legal counsel.
Outside the court proceedings, historian Andrew Lownie, who serves as an unauthorized biographer for the former duke, described the legal victory over the warrants as purely technical. The court scheduled a follow-up hearing for 2027 to determine whether the contested evidence can ultimately be presented in court.
