Police Scotland has confirmed it is making enquiries into claims that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell trafficked women to Balmoral, the King's private estate in the Scottish Highlands. The investigation is at a “very early stage”, with the force stressing that its enquiries will be evidence-led and focused on the needs of survivors.
Alleged 2006 visit and 1999 photograph
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Maxwell are alleged to have travelled to the private Balmoral estate in 2006 aboard a jet owned by Epstein, according to the Daily Express. US prosecutors previously released a photograph showing Epstein and Maxwell inside a log cabin at Balmoral during a visit to Royal Deeside in 1999.
The pair were reportedly welcomed to the Highland estate by the then Prince Andrew, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The photo was also presented during Maxwell's trial, which centred on allegations that she recruited and groomed teenage girls for Epstein between 1994 and 2004.
Police statement and wider inquiries
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We have received information and active inquiries are ongoing, but these are at a very early stage. All inquiries are evidence-led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those inquiries. We would never confirm details of ongoing inquiries and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Thames Valley Police, the Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police are among the forces with ongoing investigations linked to the release of the Epstein files, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has confirmed. An NPCC spokesperson said: “Identifying any further potential offending, suspects, victims or witnesses is a complex process and will take time, but UK policing remains committed to carrying out a meticulous assessment of the material released by the US Department of Justice.” However, the NPCC confirmed there is currently no national investigation into the matter.
Arrest and correspondence
The latest developments follow the arrest of the former Duke of York on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 19, his 66th birthday. The arrest came amid allegations that he shared sensitive information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK's trade envoy. Andrew was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation.
Emails contained in a tranche of the Epstein files released last year have also raised questions about Andrew's correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell. One message, signed “A”, asked the disgraced British socialite for “inappropriate friends”. The email was among four sent by an individual using the name The Invisible Man to Maxwell in August 2001. In the correspondence, the sender said their “valet” had recently died and that they had “left the RN”. Andrew had left the Royal Navy the previous month.
In another email, dated August 16, 2001, the same sender said they were at “Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family” before asking Maxwell: “Have you found me some inappropriate friends?” Further correspondence from March 2002 appears to show Maxwell passing on a message to an unidentified individual. In an email to The Invisible Man, Maxwell said they had delivered the message, which began: “I just gave Andrew your telephone no.” The message to the unnamed recipient also suggested “Andrew” would be “very happy” if they took part in some “two legged sightseeing”.
Background and aftermath
Andrew served as the UK's special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 to 2011, when he resigned from the position amid growing controversy surrounding his friendship with Epstein. Although he received no salary for his work promoting British business interests both at home and overseas, his role attracted criticism over the thousands of pounds spent annually on his expenses and travel.
His departure came in the same year that a photograph emerged showing him with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, his primary accuser. Ms Giuffre alleged she had been trafficked to the former duke at the home of Maxwell, who was later convicted of sex trafficking offences. Andrew, who has said he never met Ms Giuffre, paid her millions of pounds to settle a civil lawsuit in the US in 2022. Ms Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, aged 41.
