Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, has filed a legal claim with the High Court in London to quash search warrants used at his residences earlier this year. A judicial spokesperson confirmed the filing on Monday, October 5, 2026, stating that a hearing on the matter is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026. The warrants authorized searches of his homes near Windsor Castle and on the Sandringham estate in eastern England during a February investigation.
The legal challenge follows Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest on February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. British police are investigating allegations that he shared sensitive information with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a U.K. trade envoy. Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation after 11 hours of questioning and has denied all wrongdoing.
The searches in February included a six-day raid at the Royal Lodge in Windsor and a search at Sandringham. The investigation by Thames Valley Police followed the release of documents concerning Epstein's sex trafficking network. Among these records was a November 2010 email in which Mountbatten-Windsor appeared to share reports on his visits to Asian countries with Epstein, who had been convicted of procuring a child for prostitution two years prior.
The High Court's decision will determine the admissibility of evidence in the criminal investigation. If the court quashes the warrants, it could prevent authorities from using materials seized during the search of the Royal Lodge or the Sandringham estate. Attorney Mark Stephens noted that the challenge indicates Mountbatten-Windsor's legal team is taking the potential for charges seriously.
The scale of the underlying investigation involves millions of pages of documents released by U.S. authorities and at least nine British police forces reviewing claims linked to the Epstein files. According to The Daily Telegraph, this is the first time a member of the royal family has challenged the lawfulness of criminal proceedings against them since the 1649 trial of Charles I. The outcome will follow the removal of his princely titles and royal duties in previous years.
King Charles III has stated that "the law must take its course," regarding the investigation. The next step is a judicial review hearing at the High Court scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026. Thames Valley Police confirmed on Monday that their investigation into misconduct in public office remains ongoing regardless of the warrant challenge.