High Court rules police search warrants on Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor unlawful

The court found the warrants unlawful, yet Thames Valley Police say the investigation into alleged misconduct remains open.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 08 Oct 2026 20:53:09 GMT

Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor and Thames Valley Police have reached an agreement that the search warrants authorising raids on his Sandringham Estate residence and former Royal Lodge home in February were unlawful, a High Court judge said on 8 October 2026.

What happened

In February 2026 police officers, acting on warrants issued by an Old Bailey judge, raided Mountbatten‑Windsor’s Sandringham residence and his former home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor. The raids followed his arrest on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, linked to allegations he shared sensitive information with the late Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy. He was interviewed under caution and later released.

What the reports add

According to the Independent, the parties “agreed that the search warrants were unlawful” after a High Court hearing. The Standard adds that Justice Hilliard clarified the agreement does not end the criminal investigation, stating “the fact that the search warrants were quashed does not bring an investigation to an end, or mean that the whole of the investigation was unlawful”. Both outlets report that Mountbatten‑Windsor has accused officers of taking personal items during the raids.

What was said

Justice Hilliard told the court, as reported by the Standard, that “agreement was reached between the claimant and Thames Valley Police that the search warrants were unlawful”. A Thames Valley Police spokesman, cited by the Standard, said the initial court decision to issue the warrants under the specific legislation was “incorrect and therefore these must be legally quashed”.

How it came about

The legal challenge stems from Mountbatten‑Windsor’s earlier effort to contest the warrants, which Felo News covered on 6 October 2026 (Former Duke of York challenges Thames Valley Police search warrants). The dispute follows the stripping of his prince title and dukedom in October 2025 after ongoing scrutiny of his association with Epstein.

Key facts

A High Court judge ruled the search warrants used to raid Mountbatten‑Windsor’s properties were unlawful (independent.co.uk)
The agreement on unlawfulness does not end the criminal investigation (standard.co.uk)
Mountbatten‑Windsor was arrested on his 66th birthday in February 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office (independent.co.uk)
He has denied wrongdoing and alleges officers took personal items during the raids (independent.co.uk)

Timeline

2025-10-01 — King Charles strips Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor of prince title and dukedom
2026-02-15 — Police raids on Sandringham residence and Royal Lodge under Old Bailey warrants
2026-02-15 — Mountbatten‑Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
2026-10-08 — High Court judge declares the warrants unlawful; agreement reached between claimant and Thames Valley Police