Police Scotland has confirmed it has received information and opened an inquiry at a very early stage into the time the former Prince Andrew spent with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein at Balmoral. The enquiries relate to claims that women were trafficked to the estate.
Royal author Andrew Lownie, who has spoken repeatedly about the need to look into Epstein's visits to Balmoral, said: "It's right that serious allegations about what may have happened at Balmoral are finally being looked at."
Police Statement and Local Reaction
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."
The news about the investigation had already reached Royal Deeside, the region where Balmoral is located, by the time the castle opened this morning. Richard and Marie from East Yorkshire were unloading their bikes from their car, ready for a ride along the riverside cycle path in the October sunshine.
"Andrew has had a monumental fall from grace, and he can't really fall any lower without being put in prison for something," said Richard, who described himself as a royalist and a fan of King Charles and the family in general.
Public Sentiment and Wider Investigations
Lesley Hepburn from Glasgow said: "As a woman I hold huge empathy for the victims of Epstein, I think it's despicable," she said, adding that Andrew shouldn't be "protected".
"I think it's a very complicated picture and I think that he [King Charles] has probably done his very best." Newlyweds Christopher and Kelly Warren from Rhayader in mid-Wales were visiting the castle on their honeymoon. Christopher said: "It's bad for the Royal Family, obviously."
Multiple forces, including Thames Valley Police, the Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police, also have live investigations linked to the release of the Epstein files, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) 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." There is not currently a national investigation, the NPCC said.
Political Response and Background
Scottish First Minister John Swinney said he "understands" the concern over the allegations relating to a visit to Balmoral by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He said: "I've seen the media report on the allegations that have been made and I understand the seriousness of the points that have been made and the concern that has been expressed. This is an operational matter for Police Scotland to fully and comprehensively investigate and I'm very confident that's exactly what Police Scotland will do."
The former Duke of York, who was pictured yesterday outside his Sandringham home, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 19, his 66th birthday, following allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK's trade envoy. Andrew was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation, and denies wrongdoing, with the police probe ongoing.
An email released in a tranche of the Epstein files last year signed "A" asked disgraced British socialite Maxwell for "inappropriate friends". In one of four emails sent by someone titled The Invisible Man to Maxwell in August 2001, the sender told the now convicted sex trafficker their "valet" had recently died and they had "left the RN". Andrew left the Royal Navy the month before the email was sent.
Another email from the same individual, dated August 16 2001, said they were at "Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family" before asking Maxwell: "Have you found me some inappropriate friends?" In March 2002, an email from Maxwell to The Invisible Man said they had passed on a message to an unnamed individual, with that message beginning with: "I just gave Andrew your telephone no." The message from Maxwell to the unidentified person also said "Andrew" would be "very happy" if he did some "two legged sight seeing".
Andrew was the UK's special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein. He received no salary for travelling around the world and at home promoting Britain's business interests, but criticisms were made about the thousands of pounds spent each year on his expenses and travel costs.
His decision to quit the role came in the same year he was pictured with his arm around his primary accuser, Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked to the former duke at the home of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew paid Ms Giuffre, a woman he has claimed never to have met, millions of pounds to settle a civil suit in the US in 2022. Ms Giuffre died by suicide aged 41 in April 2025.
