Material seized is still being held by the police as they argue over a legal point about “whether we can lawfully retain it in support of our ongoing investigation,” Thames Valley Police said
The search warrants that allowed police to raid the two homes of the former Prince Andrew earlier this year were unlawful,
it was admitted on Thursday, Oct. 8.
The police behind the February arrest of King Charles’ brother and subsequent searches of his homes —
one on the royal family’s Sandringham estate as well as Andrew’s longtime residence of Royal Lodge in Windsor —
accepted that the legal basis used by the top judge who issued the warrants in February 2026 was not correct.
Those search warrants have been quashed on a legal technicality after it emerged they were applied for under the wrong part of the relevant law.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as King Charles’ brother is known after his titles were stripped last year,
was arrested by Thames Valley Police detectives on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
It came amid renewed scrutiny of his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
The warrants were issued by a High Court judge at the Central Criminal Court in London on February 18, the day before his arrest.
However, Andrew’s lawyers launched a judicial review, questioning the background that led to the granting of the warrants.
As a hearing got underway in London on Oct. 8, it became clear that Thames Valley Police had conceded on a key point.
It emerged that, in fact, as far back as July 22, an agreement had been reached to quash the search warrants.
In response to the legal challenge from Andrew and his lawyers, the police have accepted that the basis for the searches should have been under a separate section of the relevant law —
the Police and Criminal Evidence Act: Section 9, instead of Section 8, which had been applied.
The police believe this decision relates to the judicial decision-making rather than that of the Thames Valley Police or the ongoing wider investigation.
The police said in a statement to PEOPLE,
“The agreement that led to the quashing of the warrants relates specifically to a decision made by the court regarding the legal basis for these and is not a judgment on the ongoing investigation.”
“We ensured the court was presented with all the necessary information and paperwork to inform their decisions, following the correct legal processes throughout,” they added.
“We accept the position that the initial court’s decision to issue warrants under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect and therefore these must be legally quashed.”
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Andrew was arrested at breakfast time at his home on King Charles’ Sandringham estate in Norfolk, U.K., amid great publicity on February 19, 2026.
He was taken to a police station around 40 miles away and questioned by police investigating misconduct in public office and subsequently released at the end of the day, without charge.
Most of the material seized is still being held by the police as they argue over a legal point about
“whether we can lawfully retain it in support of our ongoing investigation,” Thames Valley Police added.
That investigation into the former Duke of York is continuing.
“Due to these ongoing legal proceedings, we cannot currently provide further statement.”
It emerged earlier this week that a judicial review concerning the warrants was underway.
Andrew’s arrest and the searches came amid scrutiny of his association with Epstein. Andrew has not been charged and has consistently denied wrongdoing regarding his associations with Epstein.
In the hours after Andrew’s arrest, the King issued a statement, expressing “the deepest concern” at the news of his brother’s arrest “and suspicion of misconduct in public office.”
“What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.”
