Key facts
- Police feared Prince Andrew could argue Sandringham Estate belonged to King Charles, requiring separate legal permission for access.
- Delaying police access to properties risked the loss of evidence, according to the force.
- Documents detail police sought paperwork, diaries, business records, mobile phones, and computers.
- The criminal investigation into Prince Andrew is ongoing.
- A High Court judge ruled the search warrants were unlawful but did not end the investigation.
Thames Valley Police feared Prince Andrew might have obstructed a search of his home by claiming it belonged to King Charles, according to legal documents. Officers were concerned that such an argument could have led to delays in accessing the property, potentially compromising evidence. The police sought search warrants for properties including Wood Farm and Royal Lodge in February, citing concerns about losing crucial evidence related to their investigation into Prince Andrew's connections with Jeffrey Epstein.
The documents reveal that police believed Prince Andrew or his legal team might demand to see "judicial authority" before granting access, and that the Sandringham Estate's ownership by the King could necessitate a slow, separate right of access. This potential delay was seen as "frustrat[ing] the nature and purpose of the search."
Separately, a High Court judge recently ruled that the search warrants used by Thames Valley Police were unlawful. However, the judge stated that this does not end the criminal investigation into Prince Andrew, which remains ongoing. Items seized during the search are still held by the police, with a further hearing scheduled for 2027 to determine their admissibility as evidence.