Inquiry into Andrew’s Epstein links not ruled out as police searches continue | UK news
Police searches at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home on his Windsor estate in Berkshire continued on Sunday; A government minister has not ruled out a judge-led investigation into the former prince’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Education minister Bridget Phillipson, representing the government, did not rule out such an investigation but said it was premature due to the police investigation.
Former security minister Tom Tugendhat, a senior Conservative MP, said Mountbatten-Windsor should face a parliamentary treason inquiry over her links to the disgraced financier.
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, her 66th birthday, on suspicion of abuse of public office.
He was detained and interrogated at the police station for 11 hours due to allegations that he shared sensitive information with Epstein while he was Britain’s trade envoy.
Some public figures have called for a broader investigation into her past dealings with Epstein. Many also called for Mountbatten-Windsor, who is eighth in line to the throne, to be removed as crown prince.
Royal sources have stated that King Charles will not stand in front of parliament if he wants to ensure Mountbatten-Windsor never ascends to the throne.
Asked by Trevor Phillips on Sky News when there would be legislation to oust the former prince, Phillipson said: “We’re not ruling anything out in relation to this matter but obviously we’re running a live police investigation so we won’t be taking any further steps until the police have done their job.”
Asked about a judge-led investigation, Phillipson said: “We will look at any reasonable proposals that come forward. But it is premature at the moment because the police are doing their job.”
“They need to have the time and space to do that. As the King has stated, no one is above the law and it is right that the police go wherever the evidence takes them, so that should be the focus at the moment.”
Phillipson said more needed to be done to eliminate violence against women and girls.
“What we’re seeing here is unfortunately nothing new,” he said. “We do not listen to women who come forward and report abuse. We do not believe victims and survivors, and unfortunately, we have lived in a world and society where even when people come forward, action is not taken through the criminal justice system.”
Thames Valley police’s search of Royal Lodge, Mountbatten-Windsor’s former manor house in Windsor Great Park, began on Thursday and continued on Sunday. It is expected to be completed on Monday.
Separately, the Metropolitan police said officers who had served as conservation officers at Mountbatten-Windsor over the years had been identified and contacted.
A spokesman for the Met said: “They have been asked to carefully consider whether anything they have seen or heard during their time of service is relevant to our ongoing investigations and to share any information that may assist us.”
Dai Davies, the former head of the royal guard, told Sky News it was “inconceivable” that Mountbatten-Windsor’s old guard didn’t know about it.
“They must have gone to all five residences we mentioned in the United States Virgin Islands, New Mexico and Florida. Unfortunately, it seems incredible to me that no one saw anything.”
He called for a judge-led investigation, telling People newspaper: “The establishment has made fools of us, the public, for too long. The truth must come out, warts and all.”
Tugendhat said a special committee of MPs, peers and retired judges should be set up to investigate both Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson’s links to Epstein.
HE He told the Sun on Sunday: “This incident raises urgent questions about foreign influence and national security. What did the Palace know? What did the ministers know? What else is being hidden?”
“This goes beyond what a court might consider reasonable. Parliament must consider what this means for the country. If the worst is proven, will we have to reconsider the treason laws written 700 years ago?”
There is widespread agreement that the escalating crisis could have far-reaching effects on the institution of the monarchy and the Commonwealth.
Royal author and historian Andrew Morton told Sky News that a reference point for royal crises was set by the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, but that ended within nine days.
“I think this crisis transcends everything because there’s no end in sight. There’s no cutoff point… this is going to last for years,” Morton said.
Both the Liberal Democrats and the UK Reform Party have said they would support moves to remove Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it would be “unacceptable” for the former prince to ascend to the throne and the scenario was “not as far-fetched as some people think”.
Nothing has been seen of Mountbatten-Windsor since he was photographed slumped in the back of a Range Rover as he left Aylsham police station in Norfolk on Thursday evening.
Following his younger brother’s arrest, the king said in a statement that “the law must take its course” and that the police had “our full and wholehearted support and cooperation”.
The wider royal family continued to carry out their duties as normal. Royal princess Anne visited a crisp factory in Sheffield on Friday. on MondayA former master of the Honorable Company of Butchers, he is scheduled to attend the City Food and Drink conference at the Guildhall in London.
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the Baftas on Sunday. William said he had not yet seen Hamnet, which won the Bafta award for outstanding British film.
“I need to be in a pretty calm state and I’m not at the moment,” he told Elaine Bedell, chief executive of Southbank Center, and Allison Kirkby, chief executive of BT Group. “I will save.”
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing over her connections to Epstein but has not responded directly to the latest allegations.
Activists hung Mountbatten-Windsor’s photo, taken by Reuters photographer Phil Noble, in the Louvre museum in Paris on Sunday after her arrest.
Everybody Hates Elon, the UK-based anti-billionaire group that has carried out many destructive demonstrations, hung the photo on the wall of a French museum and called it Sweating Now.
