Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ‘making the most’ of Norfolk exile amid police investigation

Friends of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have claimed he is “making the most” of his effective exile to Norfolk while a police investigation into his suspected misconduct rumbles on.

The former Duke of York was forced to leave his longtime home of Royal Lodge and move to the Sandringham estate in February following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. He has largely kept a low profile in the months since as detectives continue to probe his ties to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking to The Telegraph, friends of the disgraced former prince insist he is focused on his new life in Norfolk and is “relieved” to be out of the Windsor Great Park bubble. But they said he is living “effectively in limbo” with Thames Valley Police’s investigation not expected to conclude for several months.

“Although there are no formal conditions which prevent him from travelling while this drags on, he cannot really stray far beyond his home,” one said. “He cannot live his normal life as the police investigation goes on.

“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.”

Detectives previously urged a woman who claims to have been sent to the UK by Epstein to have sex with the former Duke of York to come forward and said their “door is open”. The woman, who remains anonymous, has claimed she had been brought to the UK for a sexual encounter with the then-prince at his residence at the time, Royal Lodge, in 2010.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is also being investigated claims he shared confidential information with Epstein during his time as a UK trade envoy, including details of diplomatic and trade tours to Southeast Asia and potential investment opportunities in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

He became the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001, but stepped down 10 years later amid the furore over his friendship Epstein.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always strenuously denied all allegations.

MIPO is a criminal offence that concerns serious wilful abuse, or neglect, of the power or responsibilities pertaining to the public office held. The force said it is a “crime that can take many different forms”, resulting in a “complex” and potentially lengthy investigation.

Police have said they are “investigating all aspects” of the allegations and that they will “will go where the evidence leads us.”

But their investigation has been held up after they were forced to make a formal request for original documents from the US Justice Department after their initial inquiries were denied, which could take as long as a year.

In July, it was reported that detectives were set to fly to the US to speak to family members of Virginia Giuffre as part of their investigation.