Andrew feels he is 'living in limbo' over Epstein investigation but is 'making the most' of his new life in Sandringham, friends say
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor feels he is 'living in limbo' as police continue to investigate his relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, friends have said.
The former Duke of York has been living at Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk ever since he was kicked out of the Royal Lodge in Windsor and arrested on February 19.
Andrew was arrested on the morning of his 66th birthday after being accused of leaking sensitive information to Epstein while a British trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.
Friends insist he is 'making the most' of his new life in Norfolk and that there is sense of relief at being out of the Windsor 'bubble'.
Earlier this month Andrew was accused of committing sex crimes in the US by a Republican congressman.
Thomas Massie said during a speech in the House of Representatives that Andrew had committed the offences and said: 'We want the perpetrators of these crimes to be investigated and prosecuted.'
Andrew has denied committing any sexual offences.
Mr Massie made the comments during a bid to force the US government to publish any unreleased documents from the Epstein files, tranches of which have been released with heavy redactions under President Donald Trump's administration.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor feels he is 'living in limbo' over the continuing police investigation into his relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein
Andrew was pictured leaving Aylsham police station in Norfolk in February after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office
A source close to the former prince told The Telegraph: 'While Andrew remains under investigation after being arrested by Thames Valley Police seven months ago, he has effectively been living in limbo.'
They added that although he is under no formal conditions, he 'cannot live his normal life' or 'stray far beyond his home'.
'In the meantime, Thames Valley Police seems to be no nearer being able to prove an allegation of misconduct in a public office, for which Andrew was detained back in February,' they added.
The US Department of Justice is holding up the investigation into Andrew and has refused to release crucial unredacted files from the Epstein documents.
Andrew has reportedly not been in touch with Thames Valley Police since his initial arrest and has not spoken to his brother King Charles for some time but remains in touch with his other siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward.
The force said in May it was widening its investigation to include sex trafficking.
Andrew allegedly shared information including reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore as well as a confidential briefing about investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand province in Afghanistan.
It is understood the investigation into Andrew is being given the same resources as a major crime probe and that specialist sexual offence investigators are part of the team.
But the investigation took a turn in August when an unnamed woman who alleged she spent a night with Andrew in Windsor after being flown to Britain by Epstein for sex reportedly had a change of heart about testifying against him.
In May The Mail on Sunday reported that the woman did not want to 'risk losing her privacy' by making a formal complaint to detectives investigating trafficking claims.
But her American lawyer, Bradley Edwards, said this month his client had gone from a 'hard no' to a 'maybe' in assisting the criminal case.
Andrew pictured leaning over an unidentified woman in an image from the Epstein files
The woman says she was in her 20s when, at Epstein's request, she spent a night with Andrew at Royal Lodge in Windsor in 2010. It is alleged she was also given a tour of Buckingham Palace and tea afterwards.
Mr Edwards said he had spoken to British police about interviewing his client in the US, but nothing had been agreed.
He added: 'She has gone from a hard no to a maybe. Her main concern is to protect her child and she doesn't want her kid being harassed.
'If those issues can be addressed it could happen. She is thinking about it. I think she should testify because what happened was wrong. But I'm not going to push her. It has to be her choice.'
Mr Edwards, who has represented more than 200 alleged Epstein victims, previously sued Andrew on behalf of the late Ms Giuffre, who alleged she had sex at 17 with the former duke of York in London, New York and on Epstein's Caribbean island.
Andrew settled for a reported £12million before the case went to trial but did not admit liability.
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