Police investigating Andrew's Balmoral stays with Epstein and Maxwell

Police are investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's stays with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Royal Family's private estate in Scotland.

The disgraced US financier visited Balmoral with Ghislaine Maxwell in 1999, reportedly on the invitation of the then-Prince Andrew.

Police Scotland said it had received information about time the royal spent with the late paedophile at the King's Highlands estate.

These inquiries relate to claims that women were trafficked to the Scottish castle, according to the Daily Express.

A spokesperson for the force said: "We have received information and active enquiries are ongoing but these are at a very early stage.

"All enquiries are evidence led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those enquiries. We would never confirm details of ongoing enquiries and it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Pictures previously released by the Department of Justice in the US appeared to show Andrew and Epstein on a shooting trip on the grounds of the sprawling residence.

Multiple forces in the UK, 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) said.

Located in the Scottish Highlands, Balmoral Castle has belonged to the Royal Family since 1852 when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert acquired the estate.

The castle has been described as "a treasured retreat for the Royal Family" and was where Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 in 2022.

King Charles stripped his brother of both his right to be a prince and his dukedom last year over his association with convicted sex offender Epstein.

The former Duke of York was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on 19 February, his 66th birthday, following allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK's trade envoy.

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Andrew was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation, with the police probe ongoing.

He has always denied any wrongdoing.

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.

Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked to the former duke at the home of convicted sex trafficker Maxwell, was paid millions of pounds by Andrew to settle a civil suit in the US in 2022.

Ms Giuffre died by suicide aged 41 in April 2025.

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