Politics · United Kingdom · 3 days ago
UK police accept warrants for searches of Andrew’s properties were unlawful
Police searched properties linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as part of an investigation into suspected misconduct in public office.
A judge said the warrants were issued incorrectly, and police accepted they must be quashed.
This does not end the investigation.
Police and the court are still dealing with whether seized material can be kept and used.
Thames Valley Police accepted that warrants used to search properties linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were issued unlawfully and must be quashed.
A High Court judge said the police had made a significant error but stressed that quashing the warrants did not end the investigation.
The searches took place at properties in Sandringham and Windsor.
Police are seeking to keep material seized in the searches, and proceedings over its management and retention are ongoing.
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to Jeffrey Epstein and denies wrongdoing.
- Who
- Thames Valley Police and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are involved. High Court Justice Nicholas Hilliard heard the matter.
- What
- Police accepted that search warrants for properties linked to Mountbatten-Windsor were unlawfully issued and must be quashed. The investigation remains ongoing.
- When
- Police made the admission on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February.
- Where
- The searched properties were in Sandringham and Windsor, England. The hearing was at London’s High Court.
- Why
- The warrants were incorrectly granted under the specific legislation used. The investigation relates to suspected misconduct in public office linked to Epstein.
Thames Valley Police
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Warrants
Thames Valley Police
Police accepted that the warrants were not properly granted and must be quashed.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Mountbatten-Windsor challenged the legality of the warrants and opposed the police application to keep seized material.
Seized material
Thames Valley Police
Police are seeking to retain material that may support their ongoing investigation.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Mountbatten-Windsor is opposing the police application to keep the seized property.
The fact that the search warrants were quashed does not bring an investigation to an end, or mean that the whole of the investigation was unlawful.
We accept the position that the initial court’s decision to issue warrants under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect and therefore, these must be legally quashed
Legal proceedings are currently ongoing to decide how material seized during the searches will be managed and whether we can lawfully retain it in support of our ongoing investigation
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released.
Police searched properties linked to him in Sandringham and Windsor, and he challenged the warrants.
Thames Valley Police accepted that the warrants had been incorrectly granted and must be quashed.
At a High Court hearing, Justice Hilliard said quashing the warrants did not end the investigation.
The issue of whether police can keep the seized material is expected to be settled.
- Police force
- Thames Valley Police
- Searched locations
- Sandringham and Windsor
- Arrest
- February, on suspicion of misconduct in public office
- Court
- London’s High Court
- Investigation subject
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
- Seized material proceedings
- Issue expected to be settled next year
Sources
UK ex-prince Andrew search warrants quashed after police accept legal error
UK police accept ex-prince Andrew search warrants must be ‘legally quashed’
Ex-prince Andrew search warrants quashed after police accept legal error
Search warrants for former prince Andrew's homes were unlawful, UK court rules
British police admit they bungled search warrant in legal win for former prince Andrew
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