Police Scotland is conducting "active inquiries" into the activities of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during visits to Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, according to the Daily Express. The inquiry relates to allegations that women were trafficked to the royal residence.
Epstein, a sex offender who died in prison in 2019, and Maxwell, who was jailed in 2022 for sex trafficking, are understood to have visited the castle with Mountbatten-Windsor. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Flight logs show Mountbatten-Windsor and Maxwell flew from Luton to Edinburgh on Epstein's private jet on 1 September 2006 with two other passengers. An image believed to show Epstein and Maxwell at Balmoral was released by US prosecutors during Maxwell's trial and is thought to have been taken in 1999. Among documents released by the US Department of Justice known as the Epstein Files was an email sent to Maxwell on 16 August 2001 from someone identified as "A" at Balmoral, asking "Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?"
A Police Scotland spokesperson said inquiries were "at a very early stage" and that "all inquiries are evidence led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those inquiries." The force declined to comment further on ongoing inquiries.
In February, Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office following information from the Epstein Files. He was later released. Last October he was stripped of his "prince" title and confirmed to be leaving Royal Lodge.