Metropolitan Police says it is contacting protection officers who worked with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Police are asking them to think carefully about whether anything they saw or heard while protecting him could help with ongoing investigations.
At the same time, Thames Valley Police continues searching Andrew’s former Windsor home, Royal Lodge. Officers arrested him on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released him under investigation.
Police are expected to keep searching Royal Lodge through the weekend and into Monday.
You have not seen Andrew in public since his release from custody. He reportedly returned to Sandringham House in Norfolk.
Right now, police have not shared the exact reason for his arrest. However, there is growing speculation that it may relate to the alleged sharing of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
At this stage, Andrew has only been arrested and released under investigation. He has not been charged. He has previously denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has not responded to BBC requests for comment about the latest file release.
Meanwhile, the government is reportedly considering new legislation that could remove Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession.
The government is considering introducing legislation to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession,
The move would come after the ongoing police investigation has concluded.
It comes after a number of MPs suggested earlier today that Mountbatten-Windsor should be removed from the line of succession.
Earlier we reported on a statement from the Metropolitan Police, saying it is contacting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s protection officers to ask what “they saw or heard” during their period of service, as part of their ongoing review into the Epstein files.
This week there have been suggestions in the media that royalty protection officers might have “turned a blind eye” to some of Andrew’s activities, particularly on Jeffrey Epstein’s island.
The Met said it was contacting former and serving officers who may have worked in a protection capacity with Andrew.
It was asking them to “consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard” was relevant to the force’s ongoing reviews and to share any information that could assist them.
The Metropolitan Police has now said that “no new criminal allegations have been made to the Met regarding sexual offences said to have occurred” within its jurisdiction, and urged anyone with new or relevant information to come forward.
Calls for Andrew to be removed from royal line of succession
The government is facing calls to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession, preventing him from ever becoming King.
The King’s brother remains eighth in line to the throne despite being stripped of his titles last October amid pressure over his ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
On Thursday, Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
The Liberal Democrats and SNP are among those to signal their support for an act of Parliament to remove the former prince from the line of succession.
But some Labour parliamentarians who have been critical of the monarchy told the BBC they were less convinced the move was required – in part because it is so unlikely the former Duke of York would ever get near to the throne.
What did Andrew’s trade envoy role involve?
Andrew was UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, with a remit of promoting UK business interests abroad.
He worked for – but did not receive a salary from – UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), a government body which reported to the Foreign Office and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
UKTI described the role as “promoting UK business internationally, marketing the UK to potential inward investors, and building relationships in support of UK business interests”.
The role took the former prince on expenses-paid trips around the world, enjoying privileged access to senior government and business contacts, before he stood down in 2011 following criticism over his links to Epstein.
Although he was widely referred to as a trade envoy at the time, his actual title was the UK special representative for international trade and investment – and the Department for Business and Trade has emphasised, in guidance to the BBC, that he was not operating under the rules that now apply to trade envoys.
Watch: Aerial footage shows police officers at Royal Lodge on Friday
A photograph of former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving the police station on Thursday has now been seen by millions. But what goes into capturing a history-making moment like this?
Reuters photographer Phil Noble was “very skilful” to capture the photo, which shows Andrew in the back of a moving car.
“He’s clearly waited a long time. He’s got patience. He’s put himself in a good spot,” he says.
Williams says Noble “captured a moment in time”.
As a photographer, Williams says: “You want your photo to stand out.”
“You’re aware you only have a few seconds to capture a very specific shot so you have to be on job, on guard, all the time,” he says.
“It’s almost like being a footballer, you can never take your eye off the ball.”
