Robert De Niro has told Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to 'take accountability' over his friendship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The 83-year-old actor urged the former Duke of York to drop his legal action against UK police over the search warrants used to enter his property earlier this year.
Arrest and Legal Challenge
In February, Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by Thames Valley police on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following the release of the Epstein files in the United States. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has now taken legal action against the police over warrants obtained from the Central Criminal Court to search his property. He has requested the warrants be quashed.
De Niro's Comments at New York Event
Speaking at an event in New York to call for more of the Epstein files to be released, De Niro was asked by The Sun if Andrew should publicly apologise for his friendship with the financier and take accountability. He replied: "Of course, everybody who was involved should. He should drop his lawsuit."
Details of the Arrest and Hearings
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on his 66th birthday. Search warrants had been issued the day before, and detectives searched his cottage on the Sandringham estate after arresting him. They also searched Royal Lodge in Windsor, which was the ex-prince's former home.
His request to quash the search warrants will start to be considered at the High Court in London on Thursday 8 October. The hearing will begin in private, and the judge is due to initially hear a request from the police to keep some documents private.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
Thames Valley police confirmed it was facing a challenge, saying: "We are engaged in legal proceedings in relation to warrants previously obtained from the Central Criminal Court. As these legal proceedings are currently ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."
Mountbatten-Windsor's claim is thought to be challenging the lawfulness of the search warrants used for both the Sandringham and Windsor properties. This came after emails released as part of the Epstein files appeared to show official documents being shared by the former duke with Epstein and others while he was the UK's trade envoy.
Thames Valley Police have also said their investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor is still ongoing. In a prior update, they said they had been "working with the United States Department of Justice to get further information that may be related to this investigation". Detectives have also previously said that allegations of sexual misconduct could be considered as part of their inquiry.
Background of Allegations and Legal History
Mountbatten-Windsor was accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was forced to have sex with him while underage. She also claimed he knew she was underage when they were introduced. Mountbatten-Windsor has strongly denied these claims. In 2022, he settled a lawsuit with Giuffre, in which he did not admit wrongdoing but did acknowledge she was suffering as a victim of abuse. In 2025, Giuffre committed suicide.
The former duke's judicial review makes Mountbatten-Windsor the first royal to challenge the legality of criminal proceedings against them since Charles I's request in 1649, shortly before he was beheaded.
