Andrew WINS High Court battle as judge rules police raids on Sandringham were unlawful

Published: 09:26 EDT, 8 October 2026 | Updated: 09:36 EDT, 8 October 2026 The King’s brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has won a High Court battle over the searches of his two homes earlier this year.Thames Valley Police got approval from an Old Bailey judge for the dramatic swoops on Wood Farm in Sandringham and Royal Lodge in Windsor.But the former prince challenged the legality of the searches and today at the High Court it has emerged that he has been successful.It throws into doubt the police investigation into Andrew, who was arrested on February 19, his 66th birthday.He was held for nearly 12 hours before being released on police bail. He has not been charged with any offence.At a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday, which Andrew did not attend, Mr Justice Hilliard said that 'agreement was reached between the claimant and Thames Valley Police that the search warrants were unlawful'.But the judge also said that 'the fact that the search warrants were quashed does not bring an investigation to an end, or mean that the whole of the investigation was unlawful'. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor earlier this year, after police raids on his house involving a search of Royal Lodge that went on for several days Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving Aylsham Police Station after he was released from custody in February An aerial view of police visiting Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire, on Friday 20 February 2026King Charles previously stripped his brother of titles after weeks of pressure to act over Andrew's relationship with late financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. That came after the former prince said he would no longer use the title Duke of York following new revelations about his friendship with Epstein and renewed sexual abuse allegations by Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre in her posthumous memoir.Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, alleged she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew, which he vehemently denies, including when she was 17 and also during an orgy, after she was trafficked by Epstein.Andrew paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with her in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said this afternoon: 'On 22 July, the High Court quashed search warrants granted on 18 February 2026 for two properties in Norfolk and Berkshire that were searched as part of Thames Valley Police’s ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office by a man in his 60s from Norfolk.'The agreement that led to the quashing of the warrants relates specifically to a decision made by the court regarding the legal basis for these and is not a judgement on our ongoing investigation.'We ensured the court was presented with all the necessary information and paperwork to inform their decision, following the correct legal processes throughout.'The force said it accepted 'the position that the initial court’s decision to issue warrants under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect and therefore these must be legally quashed'. The spokesperson added: 'Legal proceedings are currently ongoing to decide how material seized during the searches will be managed and whether we can lawfully retain it in support of our ongoing investigation.'Our investigation into alleged misconduct in public office by a man in his 60s from Norfolk remains ongoing, and we continue to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry to effectively and fairly progress this investigation.'Due to these ongoing legal proceedings, we cannot currently provide further comment.'