Thames Valley Police are investigating an allegation that the Duke of York behaved inappropriately towards a woman at Royal Ascot in 2002, according to the Sunday Times. The force confirmed on Friday that its inquiry into the duke, who was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, is wider than previously thought and also covers sexual misconduct.
The alleged incident is said to have occurred at the five-day racing event in Berkshire during the year of the Queen's Golden Jubilee. A police spokesperson said: 'We cannot go into specifics of the investigation, but we are following all reasonable lines of inquiry.' It is unclear whether the claim was reported at the time or more recently.
The duke, who denies all wrongdoing, was arrested on his 66th birthday and questioned under criminal caution. The arrest followed allegations arising from US Department of Justice documents that he passed information to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Officers searched his Norfolk home and the Windsor estate where he lived for decades.
Thames Valley Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward with information about alleged sexual misconduct, corruption, fraud or the sharing of confidential information involving the king's brother. The force is also assessing a claim from a woman in the US that she was taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes, though this is not yet a full criminal investigation.
Challenges facing the investigation include establishing whether the duke's role as a trade envoy falls under misconduct in public office rules and obtaining original Epstein documents from US authorities, who have told British police to submit a formal international legal request.
