The criminal investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor remains active despite search warrants used to raid two of his properties being declared unlawful, the High Court has been told.
The former Duke of York had mounted a legal challenge against the force over the validity of the warrants, issued by a judge at the Old Bailey, which authorised officers to search his residence on the Sandringham Estate and his former Windsor home, Royal Lodge, in February.
Agreement reached over unlawful warrants
During a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday, which Andrew did not attend, Mr Justice Hilliard confirmed that "agreement was reached between the claimant and Thames Valley Police that the search warrants were unlawful".
However, the judge stressed that "the fact that the search warrants were quashed does not bring an investigation to an end, or mean that the whole of the investigation was unlawful".
Police statement on ongoing investigation
A Thames Valley Police spokesman issued a statement following the hearing, acknowledging that "the initial court's decision to issue warrants under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect and therefore these must be legally quashed".
"Legal proceedings are currently ongoing to decide how material seized during the searches will be managed and whether we can lawfully retain it in support of our ongoing investigation," the spokesman said.
"Our investigation into alleged misconduct in public office by a man in his 60s from Norfolk remains ongoing, and we continue to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry to effectively and fairly progress this investigation."
Arrest and denial
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid claims he passed on confidential information to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK's trade envoy.
He was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation, and denies wrongdoing.
