Searches into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Royal Lodge have been completed, police have confirmed.
The searches took place after the former prince was sensationally arrested on Thursday on his 66th birthday and taken to Aylsham police station, where he was questioned for 11 hours.
He is accused of sharing sensitive information with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his time as UK’s special representative for international trade and investment.
Police carried out searches of Wood Farm and of his seven bedroom mansion Royal Lodge as part of the investigation.
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright of Thames Valley Police 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.
‘We understand the significant public interest in this case and our investigation remains ongoing.
‘It is important that our investigators are given the time and space to progress their work. We will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so, but this is unlikely to be for some time.’
The former Duke of York’s arrest came after Thames Valley Police said it was ‘assessing’ reports that Andrew shared confidential trade reports and investment opportunities to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 and 2011 when he was the UK’s special trade envoy in Asia.
Andrew is pictured leaving Aylsham police station in Norfolk shortly after 7pm on Thursday
The former Duke of York, who appeared to be trying to dodge photographers outside the police station, was in police custody for 11 hours after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (centre) in Bahrain in 2014 in his role as a trade envoy, flanked by Prince Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa (left) and Crown Prince and Bahraini Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (right)
Andrew, who is eighth in line to the throne, was questioned for 11 hours straight following his arrest and was pictured slumped in a Range Rover on his way out of Aylsham Police Investigation Centre.
He was taken from Wood Farm on the royal Sandringham estate in Norfolk where he was placed after he was evicted from his Windsor residence Royal Lodge by King Charles earlier this month.
Andrew’s brother King Charles III was not given any prior warning of the arrest, although the Daily Mail revealed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s team was informed by a senior officer early on Thursday.
The monarch said in an unprecedented statement that ‘the law must take its course’ after expressing his ‘deepest concern’ after his younger brother was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Charles said: ‘I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office.
‘What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation.
‘Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.
‘As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.’
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, pictured in the Jeffrey Epstein files on all fours over a mystery woman
Peter Mandelson (left) and Andrew at the EU Commission’s headquarters in Brussels EU in 2007
Andrew meets Nguyen Dy Nien, then Vietnam’s Foreign Minister, in Hanoi at the start of a three-day visit to the country in June 2006
Detectives have been probing Andrew’s conduct as a trade envoy for the UK, after emails in the Epstein Files suggested he may have shared confidential information with his paedophile friend, including reports of his official visits and potential investment opportunities.
After serving for 22 years in the Royal Navy, he became the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001.
He stepped down in 2011 amid the furore over his friendship with Epstein.
Emails released by the US Department of Justice appeared to show the former duke sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore.
One email, dated November 2010, appeared to be forwarded by Andrew five minutes after being sent by his then-special adviser Amir Patel.
Another, on Christmas Eve 2010, appeared to send Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Following Andrew’s arrest, ex-US ambassador Peter Mandelson was also detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office yesterday before being released on bail.
