Ever since his arrest back in February, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been keeping a very low-profile. The King's brother has taken up residence in Marsh Farm on the monarch's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, and has only been seen on a handful of occasions.
But he was back in the news this week after winning his legal challenge against Thames Valley police over search warrants used to raid his home after they arrested him.
The former prince, who denies any wrongdoing, was arrested by police on 19 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, after which he launched a legal challenge over the legality of the search warrants.
The force said it accepted that the "initial court's decision to issue warrants under the specific piece of legislation used was incorrect" before they searched the properties.
Mr Justice Hilliard said on Thursday that while the former Duke of York and Thames Valley Police had reached an “agreement” that the warrants were unlawful, police have since launched a bid to retain evidence gathered during the searches in February.
He said Andrew opposes the bid to retain the evidence, with a hearing in the case to be held in private in 2027. It means that the ex-prince could remain in limbo for several more months before learning if he will be charged with an offence.
The warrants, issued by a judge at the Old Bailey on 18 February, allowed police to raid Andrew’s residence on the Sandringham Estate and his former Windsor home, Royal Lodge, in February.
He was then arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 19, his 66th birthday, following allegations he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
Andrew was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation, and denies wrongdoing, with the police probe ongoing.
News of Andrew's challenge against the police has renewed the discussion about his situation and what the outcome of the investigation will be.
Why is Andrew 'throwing everything' at legal action?
HELLO!'s royal editor Emily Nash believes he has 'thrown everything' at the appeal for one important reason.
© Getty ImagesSpeaking on the latest episode of A Right Royal Podcast, she said: "He has maintained throughout that he's not done anything wrong. And you have to bear in mind that this particular arrest was on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. That's a very difficult crime to prove. And despite the evidence they've gathered, there's yet to be a charge in this case. He clearly believes he will still be exonerated. And so he's throwing everything at it."
What have the police said?
Thames Valley Police has accepted warrants it used to search Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's homes at the time of his arrest in February were unlawful.
But a spokesperson said: "The agreement that led to the quashing of the warrants relates specifically to a decision made by the court regarding the legal basis for these and is not a judgement on our ongoing investigation.
© Getty Images"We ensured the court was presented with all the necessary information and paperwork to inform their decision, following the correct legal processes throughout.
"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.
"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."
The force said its "investigation into alleged misconduct in public office by a man in his 60s from Norfolk remains ongoing, and we continue to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry to effectively and fairly progress this investigation".
King Charles steps in to restore Andrew's former home
It;'s been revealed that the King has privately made funds available for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s repair and restoration costs on Royal Lodge.
It's understood that Charles made the money available to his disgraced younger brother through his private income to ensure the Crown Estate was reimbursed.
© Getty ImagesOn Friday, it was announced that Andrew’s lease on his former home in Windsor Great Park had been officially surrendered – with the Crown Estate receiving £1.5 million after £302,000 compensation he was entitled to was deducted from the £1.8 million in dilapidation costs.
The funds made available by the King will cover the £1.5 million payment.
Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, lived at the Grade II-listed 30-room property for nearly two decades, paying a "peppercorn" sum in rent.
He has since relocated to Marsh Farm, a five-bedroom home on King Charles's Sandringham Estate, where he lives in effective exile from public life.
Why has Andrew been granted compensation?
A Crown Estate spokesperson said the former prince paid £1.8 million in repair and restoration costs as the lease was handed back more than 50 years early.
Andrew was entitled to compensation because, as per the terms of his lease, he surrendered it within the first 25 years.
The Crown Estate spokesperson said: "The lease for Royal Lodge has ended and our focus now is firmly on its future use and the opportunities to generate additional financial value for the nation from its early return."
However, in December last year, the Crown Estate told MPs it was not believed Andrew would receive compensation for the early surrender of the lease once repair and restoration costs were taken into account.
In the letter to the Commons Public Accounts Committee, the Crown Estate added: “Before this position can be fully validated, however, a full and thorough assessment must be undertaken post-occupation by an expert in dilapidation”.
A compensation clause was added into the terms of the lease because of Andrew’s 2005 payment of £7.5 million for refurbishment at the 30-room property, the spokesperson added.
Speaking on A Right Royal Podcast previously, Emily explained: "Andrew could still receive hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation for having left Royal Lodge before the end of his lease. That is something that I think will really upset people given everything that has gone on."
However, she explained that any amount would depend on the state the property had been left in. Royal Lodge was widely reported to be in disrepair after its upkeep was neglected by Andrew, with pictures showing peeling paint on its exterior and "issues needing fixing".
"It just shows this problem isn't going away," Emily said.
