Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ‘banned from horse riding’ by royal aides after arrest
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has reportedly been banned from riding after his arrest on suspicion of abuse of public office.
Royal aides have warned the former prince that it would be a “bad look” if he was seen frolicking on horseback during a police investigation. Sun.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by Thames Valley Police on his 66th birthday last Thursday and questioned for 11 hours before being released to return to his new home at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate. He is accused of sharing confidential information with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein while serving as Britain’s trade envoy.
A source told Sun: “He has been ordered not to ride since his arrest last week. This is considered a bad look. They do not think he should be seen grinning and smiling on his horse as he was at Windsor.”
“But it was one of the few things he actually enjoyed doing, so what will he do with his time?”
The reported restrictions will be a blow to the former prince, who was known for his love of horse riding and was seen on horseback shortly after he was stripped of his title last year.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the matter.
The UK government is set to release files containing details of Peter Mandelson’s appointment as trade ambassador as MPs unanimously backed a motion from the Liberal Democrats demanding that all documents, including all investigations and correspondence, relating to his role between 2001 and 2011 be made public.
Lord Mandelson was also arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following similar allegations that he passed sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary.
MPs from all sides lined up in the House of Commons on Tuesday to admonish the former prince; Conservative minister Alex Burghart said it was “possible to identify Einstein’s involvement” in Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment to the post in 2001.
And business secretary Sir Chris Bryant, one of Sir Keir Starmer’s ministers, described Mr Mountbatten-Windsor as a “rude, arrogant and entitled man” who was “constantly on a self-aggrandizing and enriching whirlwind”.
Monica Harding, MP for Esher and Walton, told the House of Commons that the former prince had remained in office for 10 years despite having a “reputation that precedes him” and concerns were “met with a shrug”.
Before entering politics, Ms Harding worked as communications director at the British Council and Mr Mountbatten-Windsor visited as trade envoy.
“Before he arrived, senior staff at both the embassy and the British Council were rolling their eyes; his reputation preceded him,” the MP said.
“I was told that this was a containment exercise, that overseas missions were afraid to send him there if he said anything inappropriate, that he was arrogant and did not have a grasp of the details of his briefing.
“Rather than seeing his visit as an opportunity to attack Britain, it was thought he would do harm.”
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in his contacts with Epstein but has not commented on the latest developments.
Police announced on Tuesday night that officers had completed a search of his former residence, Royal Lodge in Berkshire, after almost a week of pressure into the allegations.
Oliver Wright, deputy chief constable of Thames Valley Police, said: “Officers have left the location we were searching for in Berkshire. This brings to an end a search operation which began on Thursday after we arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk.”
“We understand the significant public interest in this case and our investigation is ongoing.
“It is important that our researchers are given the time and space to advance their work. We will provide updates when appropriate, but this is unlikely to happen for some time.”
