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Issued on: 08/10/2026 - 16:09  Modified: 08/10/2026 - 16:15   (Reading time) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-clock)    1 min Reading time   Share (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-share)      By:  (https://www.france24.com/en/author/france-24/) (FRANCE 24) FRANCE 24       (Britain's Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew,  at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, England, on April 20, 2025)  Britain's Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, pictured at Windsor Castle in April 2025.        ©  Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP file photo    (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/uk/) British police on Thursday said that search warrants it secured to search properties linked to (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/king-charles-iii/) King Charles III ' younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor(https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261005-ex-prince-andrew-launches-bid-to-quash-epstein-affair-search-warrants) had been incorrectly granted and must be quashed. King Charles' younger ​brother was arrested on ‌suspicion of misconduct in public office in February and searches carried out at properties in Sandringham, eastern England, and Windsor. Andrew was suspected ‌of leaking confidential government documents to the late convicted sex-offender ⁠(https://www.france24.com/en/tag/jeffrey-epstein/) Jeffrey Epstein when Andrew was a British trade representative, between 2001 and 2011. Police have not charged him and Andrew, ​the second son of the late (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/queen-elizabeth-ii/) Queen Elizabeth II , ‌has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, also saying he regrets their friendship. Watch more (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-world-this-week/20260220-epstein-andrew-s-arrest-and-royal-crisis) Epstein, Andrew's arrest and a royal crisis  The arrest of Mountbatten-Windsor, and the anger over his relationship ‌with Epstein, left the British royal family facing one of its worst crises in ​90 years. Mountbatten-Windsor applied for the search warrants to be quashed and Thames Valley Police said it accepted that they had not been properly granted. "We accept the position that the initial court's decision to issue warrants under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect and therefore these must be legally quashed," a Thames Valley Police spokesperson said. "Legal proceedings are currently ongoing to decide how material seized during the searches will be managed and whether we can lawfully retain it in support of our ongoing investigation." It said its criminal investigation which began after the release of millions of documents by the US Department of Justice relating to the late US sex offender Epstein was still ongoing. (FRANCE 24 with Reuters)     Read next   (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261005-ex-prince-andrew-launches-bid-to-quash-epstein-affair-search-warrants) (Britain's Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew,  at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, England, on April 20, 2025)   (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261005-ex-prince-andrew-launches-bid-to-quash-epstein-affair-search-warrants) (Ex-prince Andrew launches bid to ‘quash’ Epstein-affair search warrants) Ex-prince Andrew launches bid to ‘quash’ Epstein-affair search warrants    Europe    (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/scoop/20260223-what-the-andrew-epstein-saga-reveals-about-the-press-and-the-palace) (SCOOP)  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)      Scoop (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/scoop/20260223-what-the-andrew-epstein-saga-reveals-about-the-press-and-the-palace) (What the Andrew-Epstein saga reveals about the press and the palace) What the Andrew-Epstein saga reveals about the press and the palace    Europe          Today's top stories   (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261008-live-students-fourth-round-protests-education-funding-france) (Live: Police fire tear gas at student protesters in Paris ahead of afternoon marches nationwide) Live: Police fire tear gas at student protesters in Paris ahead of afternoon marches nationwide  Live  France     (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261007-france-summons-iranian-ambassador-over-disinformation-on-student-protests) (France summons Iranian ambassador over 'disinformation' on student protests) France summons Iranian ambassador over 'disinformation' on student protests   France     (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20261007-dnc-sues-trump-administration-taxpayer-funded-tv-ads) (Democratic party sues Trump administration over taxpayer-funded TV 'propaganda') Democratic party sues Trump administration over taxpayer-funded TV 'propaganda'   Americas     (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20261007-thousands-protest-flavio-bolsonaro-far-right-brazil) (Thousands protest Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, fearing far-right return) Thousands protest Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, fearing far-right return   Americas     (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261008-saudi-arabia-strikes-deadly-houthi-attacks-airports) (Explosions heard in Saudi capital Riyadh after Houthis' deadly attacks on airports) Explosions heard in Saudi capital Riyadh after Houthis' deadly attacks on airports   Middle East        Advertising (Report this ad) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-report-ad)           Most read   1 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261006-french-interior-ministry-estimates-250-000-join-student-protests-organisers-claim-450-000) French interior ministry estimates 250,000 join student protests; 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