Source: Radio New Zealand
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Max Mumby/Indigo
British police say they’ve finished searches of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s property in Berkshire following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The former British prince was released last Thursday, pending further investigation, after he was questioned at a Norfolk police station about his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The US Department of Justice published millions of files related to Epstein last month, which revealed information that’s put a cloud over numerous high-profile figures in the UK and US.
It’s believed Mountbatten-Windsor was under investigation for his time as a trade envoy from 2001 and 2011.
Emails appeared to show him discussing confidential information obtained in that role with Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor had not commented on the latest allegations but had repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The New Zealand government yesterday said it would back a move to remove him from the line of succession, should the UK government propose to do so.
Mountbatten-Windsor had already been stripped of his royal titles by his brother, and New Zealand’s head of state, King Charles.
Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright today said “Officers have now left the location we have been searching in Berkshire. This concludes the search activity that commenced following our arrest of a man in his sixties from Norfolk on Thursday.”
He confirmed their investigation is ongoing, but there were unlikely to be further updates “for some time”.
Searches of Mountbatten-Windsor’s property in Norfolk concluded last Thursday.
Former UK ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, relating to his time as UK Business Secretary on Tuesday.
Emails released by the US Department of Justice appeared to show him discussing confidential information with the disgraced financier too.
He was released on bail later the same day, pending further investigation.
Mandelson hadn’t commented on the latest allegations, but had previously denied any wrongdoing.
He was removed as UK Ambassador to the US by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last September, when it emerged he’d maintained a relationship with Epstein after his conviction.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
