Police Scotland has opened an inquiry into allegations that young women were “trafficked” to Balmoral while Jeffrey Epstein visited the royal estate with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The force said it had received information that prompted the investigation, which is at a “very early stage”. It stressed that the inquiries remain ongoing and that no allegation had been made against Mountbatten-Windsor.
“All inquiries are evidence-led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those inquiries,” Police Scotland said.
“We would never confirm details of ongoing inquiries, and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Police Scotland inquiry into Balmoral allegations
The concerns relate to Epstein’s visit to Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands in 1999. He and Ghislaine Maxwell were photographed at the estate during the trip, which formed part of a week-long visit to Britain.
A young woman who worked for Epstein told the Daily Mail six years ago that she had accompanied him to Balmoral in the middle of that year. The group also stayed at Maxwell’s London home.
Epstein and Maxwell had access to several royal estates over a number of years through their friendship with Andrew, who was then a prince.
They later attended a party at Windsor Castle in June 2000, hosted by the Queen to mark a series of family birthdays, including Andrew’s 40th. They were also photographed at Sandringham that year during a pheasant-shooting visit.
Entries in a birthday book presented to Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003 referred to visits involving Andrew and Buckingham Palace. In 2006, Epstein, Maxwell and disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein were photographed at Royal Lodge during the early stages of Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday celebrations.
Epstein was charged in 2006 and later reached a plea deal with prosecutors under which most charges were dropped. He was found guilty of soliciting a minor for prostitution and spent time in prison and under house arrest.
Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly insisted that he is innocent of wrongdoing. King Charles removed his title as Duke of York and other honours late last year, while an arrangement was reached under which he would no longer be known as a prince.
