Topics: Prince Andrew, Royal Family, UK News, World News, Police
Police have issued an update regarding the ongoing investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after the former prince was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office last week.
Thames Valley Police said in a statement last week they had arrested a man in his sixties 'on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk'.
After hours of questioning, the former Prince Andrew was released with their investigation ongoing.
Authorities have continued to search the former prince's previous residence, the Royal Lodge in Berkshire, in recent days.
Advert
Thames Valley Police confirmed in a statement on Tuesday (February 24) that the search had been concluded, though the investigation remains 'ongoing'. However, police did note any updates are 'unlikely to be for some time'.
Oliver Wright, Assistant Chief Constable at Thames Valley Police, said in a statement: "Officers have now left the location we have been searching in Berkshire. This concludes the search activity that commenced following our arrest of a man in his sixties from Norfolk on Thursday.
"We understand the significant public interest in this case and our investigation remains ongoing.
"It is important that our investigators are given the time and space to progress their work. We will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so, but this is unlikely to be for some time."
It comes after Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant criticized the former prince after MPs in the UK backed the release of files related to Andrew's appointment as a trade envoy to be released.
Bryant said the files would be released 'as soon as is practicable and possible within the law' while speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
The Labour MP labeled Andrew as 'rude, arrogant and entitled' and also described him as 'a man on a constant self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle'.
Previously, the governments of both New Zealand and Australia backed plans to remove the former prince from the line of succession.
Police have been looking into a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as a trade envoy, a position the former prince held between 2001 and 2011.
The 66-year-old has faced allegations from Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre in recent years. Giuffre, who died by suicide in April last year, claimed she was made to have sex with Andrew in the early 2000s when she was 17.
Andrew has long denied any wrongdoing.
