Police Scotland confirms ‘active enquiries ongoing’ about Andrew, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Balmoral

“All enquiries are evidence led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those enquiries.

“We would never confirm details of ongoing enquiries and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Pictures previously released by the Department of Justice in the US appeared to show Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Epstein on a shooting trip at the Balmoral Estate.

In February, Police Scotland said it was “keen to speak to anyone with information” about a 2006 flight into Edinburgh Airport when Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Maxwell were on board Epstein’s “Lolita Express” private jet.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

He was stripped of his royal titles after the Epstein Files scandal last year and later evicted from his home at Royal Lodge.

In February, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in relation to his time as a British trade envoy.

That investigation is still ongoing, and Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council has set up a UK-wide coordination group to support at least nine forces that are assessing allegations that have emerged from the Epstein Files.

They include Thames Valley Police, which has said it was looking into allegations that a woman in her 20s was sent to the UK by Epstein in 2010 for a sexual encounter with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor at Royal Lodge.

Meanwhile, Surrey Police has said it was seeking information on an allegation of human trafficking and sexual assault dating back to the mid-1990s.

In February, Police Scotland appealed for information about the 2006 flight into Edinburgh and said: “We have not received any report or complaint in relation to this matter. We would be keen to speak to anyone with information.”

GB News has contacted both Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Buckingham Palace for comment.

Earlier this month, Thames Valley Police acknowledged the search warrants used to raid Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s residence on the Sandringham Estate and his former Windsor home, Royal Lodge, in February were unlawful.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had challenged the warrants, and now documents from the ensuing High Court proceedings revealed the force feared evidence could be lost if they had to seek permission from Buckingham Palace first to search the premises.

Mr Justice Hilliard said on October 8 that while the King’s younger brother and Thames Valley Police have reached an “agreement” that the warrants were unlawful, police have since launched a bid to retain evidence gathered during the searches in February.

He said Mr Mountbatten-Windsor opposes the bid to retain the evidence, with a hearing in the case to be held in private in 2027.

The former prince will therefore remain in limbo for several more months.