Police Appeal to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Former Bodyguards in Epstein Investigation
Police investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's connections to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have made a direct appeal to his former close protection officers. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are identifying and contacting both former and serving officers who worked closely with the former Duke of York in a protection capacity.
Officers have been specifically asked to "consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard" during their period of service might be relevant to ongoing inquiries. This development comes as detectives continue to assess millions of documents released by the US Department of Justice related to Epstein's activities.
International Cooperation and Human Trafficking Concerns
Detectives are working with American authorities to investigate whether London airports were used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation. This follows former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's call for police to urgently re-examine claims that women or girls were trafficked to the UK aboard flights to Stansted Airport.
The Metropolitan Police stated: "We are assessing this information and are actively seeking further detail from law enforcement partners, including those in the United States."
Political Moves to Alter Succession Line
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is understood to be considering proposing a law change that would remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession once police complete their investigation. Any such change would require parliamentary legislation and consultation with Commonwealth realms including Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated parliament would need to consider "when the time is right" to change the law, adding that "naturally the monarchy will want to make sure he can never become King."
Ongoing Police Searches at Royal Lodge
Searches at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, entered their second day on Friday and are expected to continue through the weekend into Monday. The 30-room property, where the former prince lived for over two decades, is being thoroughly examined by officers.
Thames Valley Police confirmed: "Searches in Berkshire are ongoing and are likely to be ongoing until Monday." Several unmarked vehicles were seen entering the gates of the 98-acre estate as uniformed officers patrolled the grounds.
Public Opinion and Political Reactions
A recent YouGov poll of 7,242 adults revealed overwhelming public sentiment regarding the succession issue:
- 82% of Britons believe Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should be removed from the line of succession
- Only 6% believe he should remain in the succession line
- 12% expressed no opinion on the matter
Green Party leader Zack Polanski called for a "full statutory inquiry" following the former prince's arrest, suggesting it should examine other public figures if necessary. Labour MP Rachael Maskell for York Central told the BBC she believes Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should have his succession rights revoked.
Royal Family Response and Continuing Crisis
The arrest marks what many consider the greatest challenge to the monarchy since King Edward VIII's abdication in 1936. King Charles has expressed his "deepest concern" over his brother's arrest, stating that "the law must take its course."
Princess Anne continued her royal duties with a visit to Yorkshire Crisps on Friday, ignoring questions about whether she had spoken to her younger brother since his arrest. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, have yet to comment publicly on the situation.
The 66-year-old former prince was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released after 11 hours of questioning. He has denied any wrongdoing regarding his links with Epstein but has not directly addressed the latest allegations.
