Police Scotland Reviews Information on Epstein and Andrew at Estate

Police Scotland has confirmed it is reviewing information regarding the visits of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell to a royal estate in Scotland, according to reports published on Friday. Authorities emphasized that the investigation is at an early stage, noting that all inquiries are evidence-based and prioritize the needs of victims.

The investigation focuses on the period when Andrew, the former Duke of York, spent time with the convicted sex offender Epstein, who died in prison, and Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking. According to reports in the Daily Express, the checks relate to allegations that women were brought to the estate. Previously released photographs by the US Department of Justice purportedly show Andrew and Epstein during a hunting trip at Balmoral.

A Police Scotland spokesperson stated that active inquiries are ongoing but remain at a very early stage. The spokesperson added that all checks are grounded in evidence, with victims' needs at the heart of the process, and declined to comment further on ongoing investigations.

Simultaneously, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) confirmed that several UK police forces, including Thames Valley Police, the Metropolitan Police, and Surrey Police, are conducting active inquiries linked to the release of Epstein-related documents. However, the council clarified that no nationwide investigation is currently underway.

Andrew was arrested on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following allegations that he passed sensitive information to Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy. He was questioned under caution and subsequently released pending further investigation. Andrew denies all allegations against him.

Released documents from last year include an email signed with the letter A, in which Maxwell was asked to find "inappropriate friends." In an August 2001 email, a sender using the alias "the invisible man" mentioned that his assistant had recently died and that he had "left the Royal Navy." Andrew left the Royal Navy a month prior to the email. Another message from August 2001 placed the sender at the "royal family's summer camp at Balmoral," asking Maxwell about finding inappropriate friends.