Police Scotland has confirmed there are “ongoing active inquiries” into the time Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell spent at Balmoral as guests of Prince Andrew, dealing a fresh blow to the Duke just as he believed his legal troubles were easing.
The development follows Andrew's recent victory over Thames Valley Police, when search warrants used during his arrest in February were ruled unlawful. That ruling had raised his hopes that current police investigations would be dropped.
Inquiries into Balmoral visits
The Scottish force is understood to be examining claims that women were “trafficked” to Balmoral Castle by Epstein. Andrew has vehemently denied any wrongdoing against all allegations.
After months in exile on the Sandringham Estate, the Duke had begun to socialise again, joining friends on shooting weekends and dinner parties. Allies who have criticised how he has been treated despite not being found guilty of any crime said they were optimistic that they were starting to get the “old Andy back”.
Renewed pressure
One ally said: “What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?”
The arrest on his 66th birthday was viewed as a calculated plot to impose maximum humiliation. Now the fresh inquiry into what happened at Balmoral adds further scrutiny. In the court of public opinion, the King's brother is already judged guilty of misjudgement, a misguided choice in friendships and being arrogant enough to think he was untouchable.
