Scotland opens inquiry into Andrew's 1999 Balmoral visit with Epstein

Police Scotland announced Friday that it has opened an investigation into the period former Prince Andrew spent with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Balmoral estate. The force stated the inquiry began after it received specific information, though it described the probe as being at a very early stage.

The Daily Express first reported that the inquiries relate to claims women were trafficked to the king's private estate in the Scottish Highlands. Police Scotland declined to specify the nature of the information or the offenses under review. The force noted that all inquiries are evidence-led and centered on the needs of victim survivors.

The investigation follows the release of images by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year. The photos appeared to show Epstein and Maxwell on a shooting trip at Balmoral in 1999. These images were part of millions of pages of documents published during a congressional review of Epstein's connections to global figures.

This Scottish probe is the latest development in a long-running legal and public relations crisis for the British royal family. In February, Thames Valley Police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was held for several hours before being released on police bail.

The arrest marked the first time in nearly four centuries that a senior British royal had been taken into custody. Thames Valley Police covers the area west of London, which includes Windsor Castle and Mountbatten-Windsor's former residence. Other U.K. forces, including the Metropolitan Police Service and Surrey Police, are also examining information from the Epstein files.

King Charles III stripped his brother of his princely title late last year to shield the monarchy from the scandal. Mountbatten-Windsor was also ordered to leave the Royal Lodge, his longtime home in parkland near Windsor Castle. He now resides at Sandringham, the king's privately owned estate in eastern England.

Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied committing any crimes. His reputation has been damaged by his relationship with Epstein since 2008, when the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution. In 2011, Virginia Giuffre alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor at age 17. A 2019 BBC interview intended to clarify the situation drew criticism for perceived lack of empathy toward victims.