Probe into Andrew and Epstein’s Balmoral visit in ‘very early stages’ – police
Detectives are investigating the time Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell spent at the King’s private estate in Scotland.
Police Scotland said it had received “information” and a probe is at a “very early stage” into the time the disgraced royal spent with the late paedophile financier at Balmoral.
The Daily Express reported the inquiries relate to claims that women were trafficked to the estate.
Pictures previously released by the Department of Justice in the US appear to show Andrew and Epstein on a shooting trip at Balmoral.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “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.”
Multiple forces, including Thames Valley Police, the Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police, also have live investigations linked to the release of the Epstein files, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) confirmed.
An NPCC spokesperson said: “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.”
There is not currently a national investigation, the NPCC said.
The former Duke of York was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 19, his 66th birthday, following allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
Andrew was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation, and denies wrongdoing, with the police probe ongoing.
An email released in a tranche of the Epstein files last year signed “A” asked disgraced British socialite Maxwell for “inappropriate friends”.
In one of four emails sent by someone titled The Invisible Man to Maxwell in August 2001, the sender told the now convicted sex trafficker their “valet” had recently died and they had “left the RN”.
Andrew left the Royal Navy the month before the email was sent.
Another email from the same individual, dated August 16 2001, said they were at “Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family” before asking Maxwell: “Have you found me some inappropriate friends?”
In March 2002, an email from Maxwell to The Invisible Man said they had passed on a message to an unnamed individual, with that message beginning with: “I just gave Andrew your telephone no.”
The message from Maxwell to the unidentified person also said “Andrew” would be “very happy” if he did some “two legged sight seeing”.
Andrew was the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein.
He received no salary for travelling around the world and at home promoting Britain’s business interests, but criticisms were made about the thousands of pounds spent each year on his expenses and travel costs.
His decision to quit the role came in the same year he was pictured with his arm around his primary accuser, Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked to the former duke at the home of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew paid Ms Giuffre, a woman he has claimed never to have met, millions of pounds to settle a civil suit in the US in 2022.
Ms Giuffre died by suicide aged 41 in April 2025.
Published: by Radio NewsHub