Police Scotland Investigates Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Epstein and Maxwell Stays at Balmoral

Police Scotland confirmed on Friday that it is making inquiries into stays at Balmoral, the royal family's Scottish Highlands estate, by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the late Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. A spokesperson said officers had received information and that active inquiries are at a very early stage. The spokesperson said the inquiries are led by evidence, with the needs of victim survivors at their centre, and that police would not confirm details of ongoing inquiries. Andrew, 66, was stripped of his royal titles last year by his brother, King Charles. Claims have been reported that women were trafficked to the estate. A 1999 photo of Epstein and Maxwell at Balmoral was shown at Maxwell's 2021 trial, and photos released by the US Department of Justice last December appear to show a shooting trip there. Andrew is also said to have flown there with Maxwell on Epstein's private jet in 2006, and to have hosted a model in her 20s.

The right-leaning New York Post and Daily Mail lead with the new probe and the trafficking allegation. They cite the police statement, the 1999 and Justice Department photos, Maxwell's age and Andrew's lost titles. The Post calls him disgraced and adds the model claim, while the Mail adds the 2006 jet flight. Both note that police did not confirm the trafficking details. The left-leaning New York Times, in the portions available, focuses on the fact that Andrew spent time with Epstein and Maxwell at Balmoral and that police are investigating. It does not mention the trafficking claim or the photos in that material. All sides agree on the basic facts of the inquiry. The right differs by supplying more detail and allegations. The alternative outlets NewsNation and TMZ largely track the police statement, with TMZ calling it yet another investigation of the disgraced former prince.