Police in Scotland are investigating the time convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein spent with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Balmoral, a private Scottish royal estate that is a favorite getaway of the monarchy.
A Police Scotland spokesperson told CNN on Friday, “We have received information and this is an active investigation, but it is at a very early stage.”
“All inquiries are evidence-based and the needs of the victim-survivors are at the heart of the inquiry,” a police spokesperson said. “We never confirm the details of an ongoing investigation and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”
British newspaper the Daily Express reported that the investigation was related to allegations that women were “human trafficked” to Balmoral.
Since the Epstein files were made public, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, known as Prince Andrew until he was stripped of his royal title by his brother Charles III, has faced numerous allegations over his links to the late sex offender. He was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and was carefully interrogated before being released.
The scandal damaged Mountbatten-Windsor’s already tarnished reputation and threw the British royal family into crisis.
Photos previously released by U.S. prosecutors in 2021 appear to show Epstein at Balmoral in 1999 with Ghislaine Maxwell, the financier’s right-hand man who is currently in U.S. federal prison for sex trafficking and other crimes.
Buckingham Palace has consistently said it does not speak for Mountbatten-Windsor and does not comment on active police investigations.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has strongly denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Mr Epstein. Police said an investigation into misconduct in office related to his time as British trade envoy was still ongoing.
