Police Inquiries into Prince Andrew’s Balmoral Visits with Jeffrey Epstein

Police Scotland announced that it is investigating former Prince Andrew’s (now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor) 1999 stay at the royal estate of Balmoral alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The inquiry is described as being at a “very early stage.” Images released by the U.S. Department of Justice show the former duke and Epstein on a shooting trip at the estate. The investigation follows Andrew’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office on 19 February 2026, his 66th birthday, after allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment.

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The Balmoral investigation is linked to a series of emails from 2001. Subsequent correspondence in March 2002 indicates that Maxwell passed Andrew’s telephone number to an unidentified recipient. Andrew stepped down from his trade-representative role in 2011 amid criticism of his friendship with Epstein and settled a U.S. civil suit with Virginia Giuffre in 2022. Giuffre, who alleged she was trafficked to Andrew, died by suicide in April 2025.

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Police Scotland emphasized that the inquiries are evidence-led and focused on the needs of victim-survivors, adding that details cannot be confirmed while the investigation is ongoing. An NPCC spokesperson noted that identifying additional suspects, victims or witnesses is a complex process that will require time, but affirmed the commitment of UK policing to assess the material released by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Guardian

• “We have received information and active inquiries are ongoing, but these are at a very early stage. All inquiries are evidence-led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those inquiries. We would never confirm details of ongoing inquiries and it would be inappropriate to comment further.” — Police Scotland spokesperson

The Guardian

• “Identifying any further potential offending, suspects, victims or witnesses is a complex process and will take time, but UK policing remains committed to carrying out a meticulous assessment of the material released by the US Department of Justice.” — An NPCC spokesperson

The Guardian