Thames Valley Police have issued an appeal for witnesses to come forward in their investigation into alleged misconduct in public office by the former Prince Andrew, covering claims of sexual misconduct, corruption, fraud and the sharing of confidential information. The force said it believes more people may have information that could assist the inquiry.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, was arrested and questioned under criminal caution in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office relating to his role as a British trade envoy. He is alleged to have passed information to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, claims that emerged from documents released by the US Department of Justice. The former prince denies all wrongdoing.
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said the investigation was complex, with detectives working through a "significant amount" of information received from the public and other sources. He added that the force was concerned some potential witnesses mistakenly believed detectives were focused only on the alleged passing of confidential information, when misconduct in public office could take many forms, including sexual misconduct, wilful neglect of duty and fraudulent conduct.
The investigation has already obtained or is expected to obtain information from the royal household and government departments involved in the former prince's appointment as a trade envoy. Detectives with expertise in sexual offences are part of the team, and the force is assessing a claim from a woman living in the United States that she was taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes. This is not yet a full criminal investigation. Wright said police had engaged with the woman's legal representative to confirm any report would be taken seriously and handled with care, sensitivity and respect for her anonymity.
The investigation is expected to be lengthy, with any potential criminal trial not likely until 2027. Three other British police forces are conducting full criminal investigations triggered by revelations in the Epstein files, and several more are assessing claims about flights linked to the financier entering the UK. Thames Valley Police said obtaining the original Epstein documents was "hugely important", but US authorities had declined to hand them over, leaving British forces with only printouts from the Department of Justice website.
