By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-20 09:40:47 | Updated at 2026-09-20 10:30:03
54 minutes ago
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is "living in limbo" seven months on from his arrest by Thames Valley Police, according to friends.
The former Duke of York has been confined to Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk since his arrest on February 19 - the morning of his 66th birthday.
Though he retains his passport and faces no official restrictions on movement, royal officials have made clear that venturing overseas would be ill-advised.
His isolation extends beyond purely geography. He is understood not to have spoken to King Charles for a considerable period, though he remains in touch with Princess Anne and Prince Edward.
Friends maintain he is "making the most" of his Norfolk existence and feels a measure of relief at having escaped the Windsor "bubble."
Yet with the criminal investigation likely to drag on for many months more, the uncertainty shows no sign of lifting.
A source close to him told The Telegraph: "While Andrew remains under investigation after being arrested by Thames Valley Police seven months ago, he has effectively been living in limbo.
"Although there are no formal conditions which prevent him from travelling while this drags on, he cannot really stray far beyond his home. He cannot live his normal life as the police investigation goes on."
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is 'living in limbo' seven months on from his arrest by Thames Valley Police, according to friends
The investigation centres on the allegation that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor abused his position as Britain's trade envoy between 2001 and 2011 by passing confidential government information to Jeffrey Epstein.
Those communications revealed that in November 2010, the former prince apparently forwarded official reports concerning diplomatic visits to Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and China directly to Epstein.
He is also alleged to have shared a classified briefing document detailing investment prospects in Afghanistan's Helmand province.
A source close to him noted that Thames Valley Police - who later said they were also assessing possible sexual offences as part of their investigation - are "no nearer" to proving misconduct in pubic office.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently and strongly denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
The inquiry has been significantly hampered by Washington's refusal to cooperate. The US Department of Justice has declined to hand over unredacted versions of the Epstein files, which prosecutors regard as essential before any charges could be contemplated.
An initial request for the documents was rejected, leading to Thames Valley Police lodgign a formal mutual legal assistance application - a process that could take upwards of a year to yield a response.
Former royal protection officer Paul Page, who served at Buckingham Palace for six years, provided a formal written statement to the FBI earlier this month, after he claimed Thames Valley Police allegedly failed to respond to his offer of testimony.
Mr Page alleged that security protocols were loosened between 1997 and 2004 to permit Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to bring numerous women into Buckingham Palace.
The former officer further claimed that young women, among them Ghislaine Maxwell, were allegedly granted covert entry to the Palace, with their names allegedly omitted from official police log books.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has had no contact with the force since his 12-hour interrogation in February, from which he was ultimately released under investigation.
