Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces fresh police probe over alleged Epstein trafficking at Balmoral

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces fresh police scrutiny over claims Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell trafficked women to Balmoral.

The investigation is at a “very early stage”, with the force stressing that its enquiries will be evidence-led and focused on the needs of survivors.

Mountbatten-Windsor and Maxwell are alleged to have travelled to the private Balmoral estate in 2006 aboard a jet owned by Epstein, according to the Daily Express.

US prosecutors previously released a photograph showing Epstein and Maxwell inside a log cabin at Balmoral during a visit to Royal Deeside in 1999.

The pair were reportedly welcomed to the Highland estate by the then Prince Andrew, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The photo was also presented during Maxwell's trial, which centred on allegations that she recruited and groomed teenage girls for Epstein between 1994 and 2004.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell are seen here in a log cabin at Balmoral, in a photo released in 2021 by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York

US District Court for the Southe

A photo of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein (centre) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right) waling near Balmoral was released as part of the Epstein Files last year

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A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We have received information and active inquiries are ongoing, but these are at a very early stage.

“All inquiries are evidence-led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those inquiries.

“We would never confirm details of ongoing inquiries and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

An NPCC spokesperson said: “Identifying any further potential offending, suspects, victims or witnesses is a complex process and will take time, but UK policing remains committed to carrying out a meticulous assessment of the material released by the US Department of Justice.”

However, the NPCC confirmed there is currently no national investigation into the matter.

The latest developments follow the arrest of the former Duke of York on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 19, his 66th birthday.

The arrest came amid allegations that he shared sensitive information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK's trade envoy.

Andrew was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation.

He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and the police investigation remains ongoing.

Emails contained in a tranche of the Epstein files released last year have also raised questions about Andrew's correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell.

One message, signed “A”, asked the disgraced British socialite for “inappropriate friends”.

The email was among four sent by an individual using the name The Invisible Man to Maxwell in August 2001.

In the correspondence, the sender said their “valet” had recently died and that they had “left the RN”.

Andrew claimed to have never met Virginia Giuffre, centre, pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell, right

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Andrew had left the Royal Navy the previous month.

In another email, dated August 16, 2001, the same sender said they were at “Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family” before asking Maxwell: “Have you found me some inappropriate friends?”

Further correspondence from March 2002 appears to show Maxwell passing on a message to an unidentified individual.

In an email to The Invisible Man, Maxwell said they had delivered the message, which began: “I just gave Andrew your telephone no.”

The message to the unnamed recipient also suggested “Andrew” would be “very happy” if they took part in some “two legged sightseeing”.

Andrew served as the UK's special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 to 2011, when he resigned from the position amid growing controversy surrounding his friendship with Epstein.

Although he received no salary for his work promoting British business interests both at home and overseas, his role attracted criticism over the thousands of pounds spent annually on his expenses and travel.

His departure came in the same year that a photograph emerged showing him with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, his primary accuser.

Ms Giuffre alleged she had been trafficked to the former duke at the home of Maxwell, who was later convicted of sex trafficking offences.

Andrew, who has said he never met Ms Giuffre, paid her millions of pounds to settle a civil lawsuit in the US in 2022.