Andrew accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ at Royal Ascot
The police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is examining an allegation that he behaved inappropriately towards a woman at Royal Ascot.
The incident allegedly took place in 2002, when the former Duke of York attended the racing event in Berkshire with Elizabeth II during her Golden Jubilee year.
Officers at Thames Valley Police (TVP) are understood to be looking into the allegation as part of a wider investigation into Mr Mountbatten-Windsor over the alleged offence of misconduct in public office.
A spokesman for TVP said: “We cannot go into specifics of the investigation, but we are following all reasonable lines of enquiry.”
On Friday, TVP announced that its investigation into Mr Mountbatten-Windsor would consider a wide range of potential offences, which could fall under the banner of misconduct in public office.
Officers were understood to be concerned that the public believed they are only focused on claims that the former prince leaked documents to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his time working as a UK trade envoy.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Royal Ascot in 2002, the year the incident is alleged to have happened – John Stillwell
However, an individual can also be charged with misconduct in a public office if they are alleged to have committed sexual misconduct, corruption, or fraud, among other offences.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on his 66th birthday at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate on Feb 19.
He was released under investigation after spending more than 12 hours in police custody. He denies any wrongdoing.
The alleged inappropriate behaviour at Ascot that is now being examined, and which was first reported by the Sunday Times, took place between June 18-22, 2002.
However, it is not known whether police received a contemporaneous report of the alleged offence.
Ascot, which is close to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home at Sunninghill Park, has been patronised by the Royal family since it was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne. He was a regular visitor, and hosted Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein in the royal enclosure on Ladies’ Day in June 2000.
Evidence gathering
Detectives are also working their way through a list of key witnesses, including former Cabinet ministers, royal officials and senior civil servants, to gather evidence about Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s 10-year stint as a government trade envoy.
Police are investigating allegations that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, passed sensitive information to Epstein while working as a UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.
As special representative for trade and investment, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was granted access to senior government and business contacts around the world.
The Epstein files allegedly show that he forwarded official reports to the paedophile about trips to Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and China in November 2010.
Sir Vince Cable, who was business secretary when Mr Mountbatten-Windsor stepped down in 2011, said he had been contacted by police to give a witness statement. “I’ve been notified that I will be interviewed and I’m very happy to co-operate,” he said.
Police have urged any women who were abused by Epstein to contact officers if they have information that would assist inquiries.
Asst Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “We’ve been working really closely with the Department of Justice in the United States seeking further information that may be related to this investigation. We’re encouraging anyone with information to get in touch with us.”
The force has set up a dedicated team to investigate the allegations against Mr Mountbatten-Windsor. It is being resourced at a level similar to that of a murder inquiry.
A spokesman added: “Thames Valley Police is a large force with capabilities across a number of specialist areas.
“This investigation is being handled by a skilled team of detectives with expertise in complex crimes inquiries.”
DOCUMENTED REFERENCES
Exploring Documented Records
Public interest in the Epstein case continues not only because of court proceedings and testimonies, but also due to the growing body of documented records that help researchers and readers understand the broader context. Beyond legal files and media reports, some independent projects have organized publicly available data connected to Epstein’s activities.
One example is a structured archive of documented Amazon order records, where purchases are cataloged with dates and product details. While individual items do not prove wrongdoing on their own, examining documented information alongside established facts helps paint a clearer picture of the environment and circumstances surrounding the case.
Browse the structured archive of documented order records
For readers looking to review primary-source style data rather than interpretations, exploring compiled records can provide additional context to the broader discussion.
