CPS giving 'investigative advice' to police over Andrew and Mandelson probes

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it is providing early investigative advice to two separate police forces conducting criminal inquiries into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Peter Mandelson, both arrested last month over their alleged links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A CPS spokesperson stated: "We can confirm that we are now providing early investigative advice to the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the force's investigation into a 72-year-old man and will continue to liaise as requested. We can now also confirm that we are providing early investigative advice to Thames Valley Police in relation to a 66-year-old man. We remain ready to support any investigation if needed."

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York and younger brother of King Charles III, was arrested on 19 February 2026, his 66th birthday, in an early morning raid at his home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. He spent approximately 10 hours at Aylsham Police Station before being released under investigation. Thames Valley Police also searched his addresses in Berkshire, with the Home Office notified just 30 minutes before the arrest took place. Andrew is reported to be the first senior member of the British royal family to be arrested in nearly 400 years. Thames Valley Police is assessing whether he used his decade-long role as the UK's special trade envoy for international trade to share confidential trade reports with Epstein, including correspondence from 2010.

Lord Mandelson, 72, was arrested four days later on 23 February 2026, also on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and was likewise released under investigation. Scotland Yard is investigating him over emails from the Epstein files suggesting he passed sensitive government and market information to the convicted paedophile. Mandelson had been appointed UK Ambassador to Washington in February 2025, but was sacked from the post in September 2025 following disclosures from an earlier tranche of Epstein files that exposed the extent of his relationship with Epstein. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has faced sustained criticism for approving that appointment despite prior knowledge of the connection. Mandelson is separately due to hand over personal phone messages relating to his ambassador appointment files.

Both investigations draw on the millions of pages of documents released by the US Department of Justice. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

The National Police Chiefs' Council announced this week that the UK's response to the Epstein files is being stepped up. A new Gold Group has been established to focus specifically on potential UK-based sexual offending, including abuse, exploitation and trafficking. A senior investigator has been appointed to lead national coordination, building on a group already established in February 2026. The NPCC also invited alleged victims who have spoken to UK media to come forward and speak to investigators about potential crimes on British soil, while confirming that UK police are in contact with overseas law enforcement agencies, describing cross-jurisdictional information sharing as "extremely complex."

King Charles III, currently on a state visit to the United States timed to the 250th anniversary of American independence, will not be able to meet Epstein victims while UK police investigations remain active. The King confirmed Andrew's identity in the inquiry and pledged that "the law must take its course." US Congressman Ro Khanna wrote to the King urging him to meet survivors privately during the visit, and the family of Virginia Giuffre also strongly urged a meeting in a statement to BBC Newsnight. Starmer declined to comment on whether there was a "moral case" for such an encounter, insisting the focus of the visit was the independence anniversary. President Donald Trump called Andrew's arrest "very sad" and "a shame.