SANDRINGHAM, United Kingdom: UK police on Friday said they were “contacting” ex-prince Andrew´s protection officers for information, as his sensational arrest tipped the British monarchy into a crisis unprecedented in its modern era.
London´s Metropolitan police force said it was seeking information from officers “close” to Andrew, a day after he was arrested by another police force in a separate probe linked to his ties with late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Met, which has previously investigated but never arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, said it was seeking “anything” officers “saw or heard during that period of service that may be relevant to our ongoing reviews”.
It was also separately working with US authorities to “assess” allegations that multiple flights linked to Epstein facilitating the trafficking of girls and women flew in and out of London airports. At least nine British police forces have confirmed they are looking into claims -- many related to Andrew -- stemming from the Epstein files released by the US government last month.
Meanwhile, Mountbatten-Windsor -- who was marking his 66th birthday when arrested -- was nowhere to seen on Friday, hunkering down at his residence in King Charles III´s sprawling Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England.
Thames Valley Police, who had arrested the ex-prince, were searching his former home in Windsor, west of London. They were expected to continue their search over the weekend.
Footage aired on Friday showed officers at Andrew´s former Royal Lodge home in Windsor, with black unmarked vans believed to be police vehicles on site.
Police concluded a raid of his current home in Sandringham late on Thursday, as the former duke was “released under investigation” after nearly 11 hours in custody.
Almost all Britain´s newspapers carried on their front pages a photograph of the disgraced royal, looking haggard and wild-eyed as he left a Norfolk police station in a vehicle.
King Charles III issued a rare, personally signed statement on Thursday insisting “the law must take its course” and sought to project a business-as-usual air, carrying out public duties including opening London Fashion Week.
But royal commentators were in no doubt the first arrest of a senior royal in centuries signalled a profound crisis. “It´s a hugely significant moment for the British monarchy,” royal expert Ed Owens told AFP, noting much remained unclear including whether Andrew would face criminal charges.
