Police appeal for information in Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor investigation

TVP are also expected to seek information from the Metropolitan police, which assessed claims against the king’s brother twice and declined to investigate. The Met provided his armed bodyguards while he was officially a working royal, a status he lost amid the outrage over his friendship with Epstein.

The TVP investigation includes detectives with expertise in sexual offences. The force is still assessing a claim from a woman that she was taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes. It is not a full criminal investigation yet. The woman lives in the US and detectives have contacted her through her lawyer.

Wright said: “We have engaged with the woman’s legal representative to confirm that, should she wish to report this to police, it will be taken seriously and handled with care, sensitivity and respect for her privacy and her right for anonymity.

“We recognise how difficult it can be to speak about experiences of this nature, and any contact with police will be led by her wishes, when and if she feels ready and able to do so.”

Wright said police would listen and investigate “when she feels ready and able … to come forward and talk to us”.

The investigation is expected to be long, with no criminal trial until 2027 if it were to produce evidence to support criminal charges.

Three British forces are conducting full criminal investigations triggered by other revelations in the Epstein files, with several others assessing claims about flights linked to the disgraced financier entering the UK.

Police investigating the former Prince Andrew believe obtaining the original Epstein documents is “hugely important”. Currently they and other UK forces have only printouts from the DoJ website. US authorities have declined to hand the original documents over and told British police to submit a formal international legal request for assistance, which could take months, if it is agreed to at all.

As well as the TVP investigation into Mounbatten-Windsor, the Met is investigating Peter Mandelson for misconduct in public office, and Surrey police this week announced they were investigating claims of historic child sexual abuse arising from the Epstein files.

After Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrests, police conducted a short search of his Norfolk home and a week-long search on the Windsor estate where he lived for decades. Materials seized are still being examined.

One key aspect for police is obtaining evidence proving that the former prince’s role as a trade envoy is covered by MIPO rules.

Police have held early discussions with lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorises criminal charges in England and Wales.

TVP have not officially named Mountbatten-Windsor as the man they arrested in February.