Police said Andrew might frustrate search of King-owned home, papers show
Court papers show Thames Valley Police told a judge they had no certainty Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor would let officers search his home.
Police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on 19 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a criminal offence that can apply to a person carrying out public duties. He denies any wrongdoing. BBC
The papers, described by Hello Magazine, show officers applied for a search warrant for Marsh Farm one day before the arrest. A search warrant is a court order that allows police to enter premises and seize material. Marsh Farm is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's home on the Sandringham estate, and it is owned by King Charles.
Ownership was central to the application. Sandringham is a private estate belonging to the King. Police said that created legal ambiguity about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's status at the property.
Officers said they feared he or his legal team could argue the house belongs to the King and needs separate permission. They said seeking that consent in advance could frustrate the search. Detectives were also worried that staff at the property might frustrate the operation, according to court documents reported by The Telegraph.
The application used direct language. It stated there was no certainty that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor or his legal representative would grant entry or would not seek to frustrate elements of the search. Police also noted he had previously not engaged with United States authorities investigating his alleged involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.
That history formed part of the background to the arrest. The suspicion concerned alleged leaks to Epstein, as reported at the time by Reuters. The allegation remains an allegation. He denies any wrongdoing.
The warrant itself then failed on procedure. Judge Lucraft agreed to grant the warrant but issued the wrong document. That error left officers with no legal basis to seize the documents they had sought.
Mr Justice Hilliard later ruled the warrant had been issued unlawfully. He allowed police to retain the seized material pending a fresh application.
