Major Police Operation at Former Royal Residence
In a significant escalation of ongoing investigations, specialist police officers have commenced intensive fingertip searches at the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The former prince, who was interviewed for eleven hours on his 66th birthday, now faces multiple police probes as authorities meticulously examine his previous residence.
Weekend-Long Search Operation
Thames Valley Police confirmed that systematic searches at the 30-room Royal Lodge mansion in Windsor will continue through the weekend until Monday. Dozens of uniformed specialist officers are participating in what has been described as a thorough examination of the property where Andrew lived until recently.
Former Met Detective Chief Inspector David McKelvey explained the process: "They will be broken down into groups with a team leader who will have an exhibits book to log every item, detailing when and where it was found for continuity of evidence. If you do the job properly you take the thing to pieces and it will involve the lifting of floorboards and inserting fibre optic cameras into enclosed spaces."
Multiple Investigations Underway
The Metropolitan Police revealed on Friday night that they are working with American counterparts to determine whether London airports were used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation via Jeffrey Epstein's private aircraft. It is alleged that up to 90 flights landed at Stansted Airport's private terminal, potentially transporting victims.
In a parallel development, Andrew's former close protection officers are being questioned by detectives about his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Met is actively identifying and contacting both former and serving officers who worked closely with Andrew in a protection capacity.
Constitutional Implications and Royal Fallout
In what represents a fresh humiliation for the former prince, government plans are being developed that could see Andrew stripped of his position as eighth in line to the throne. Downing Street will need to consult with other Commonwealth realms before any change can be implemented, which would also require an Act of Parliament.
Each country where King Charles III serves as monarch, including Australia and Canada, would need to agree to legislation removing Andrew from the line of succession. This follows the conclusion of various police investigations into his conduct.
Wider Police Review of Epstein Documents
West Yorkshire Police has become the tenth force to confirm it is reviewing material from the millions of pages of documents related to Epstein's crimes released by the US Department of Justice. The Met emphasized that no new reports of alleged sexual offences have been made since the recent document release.
Mr McKelvey described the task facing investigators: "Millions of files need to be checked by officers, which would take many months. It's a mammoth task."
Royal Family Response and Personal Fallout
King Charles issued an unprecedented statement following his brother's arrest, asserting that "the law must take its course" while confirming that he and the rest of the Royal Family would "continue in their duty and service." Princess Anne continued with engagements but declined to comment when questioned about her brother's arrest.
Andrew's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are reportedly in shock over their father's detention. Eugenie was spotted skiing in Switzerland with her family just hours before Andrew was taken into custody.
Whereabouts of Key Figures
Andrew appears to have retreated to his isolated cottage in Sandringham after being released under investigation. Up to five police officers remained stationed outside the five-bedroom property, with protection officers seen entering and exiting but no sign of the former prince himself.
The whereabouts of Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson remain unclear, with reports suggesting she may have traveled to the Middle East. Ferguson has not been seen for almost five months since it emerged she had maintained her friendship with Epstein despite previously claiming to have severed all ties.
A source close to the situation revealed: "I've been talking to her friends. She sounds in a bad way. She's been telling people she is really suffering with her mental health and thinks everyone is out to get her. But she is adamant that she wants to get out there and start earning money again. I can't see how she's going to do it. Her brand is toxic."
The Metropolitan Police has appealed to the public for information, asking if anyone saw or heard anything relevant to the ongoing probes into the ex-prince's links with Epstein. This represents a significant shift from the force's 2016 position when it decided not to proceed with investigations after Virginia Giuffre filed court papers alleging she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew while she was a minor.
