UK police conclude search at Andrew’s former home
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Police have finished searching Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home in southeast England after he was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
“Thames Valley Police can confirm the searches in Berkshire in connection to its investigation into the offence of misconduct in public office have now ended,” the force said in a statement.
“Officers have now left the location we have been searching in Berkshire. This concludes the search activity that commenced following our arrest of a man in his sixties from Norfolk on Thursday,” Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said.
“We understand the significant public interest in this case and our investigation remains ongoing.
“It is important that our investigators are given the time and space to progress their work. We will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so, but this is unlikely to be for some time.”
Police had been searching Andrew’s former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire, following his arrest on February 19, part of a police investigation into his ties with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Documents in the Epstein files released by the US Justice Department in January appeared to show that King Charles’ younger brother had sent confidential government documents to the disgraced financier while working as a trade envoy.
Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he regretted their friendship.
It comes as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government agreed to release documents relating to Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy.
And London’s police said on Friday they were contacting former protection officers who worked for Mountbatten-Windsor, urging anyone with allegations of sex offences relating to Epstein to come forward.
With Reuters
PA