Former prince Andrew won a petition, but the legal drama is far from over

Former prince Andrew won a petition against Thames Valley Police after the police admitted that the search warrants were illegal. However, the police are asking to keep the evidence collected in the searches, and Andrew objects. The hearing in the case is expected to be held behind closed doors in 2027.

Former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor won a petition he filed against Thames Valley Police, after the police admitted that the search warrants issued against him were illegal. The police said they accept the finding that the court's initial decision to issue the warrants under a specific piece of legislation was wrong. However, the legal battle is not over: the police have filed a request to keep in their possession the evidence collected during the searches carried out at his homes last February, at Sandringham Estate and at Royal Lodge in Windsor. Andrew objects to this request. The judge who heard the petition noted that the parties reached an agreement on the illegality of the warrants, but the hearing on the question of the evidence will be held behind closed doors in 2027. As recalled, on February 19, on his 66th birthday, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, following claims that he passed sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as Britain's trade envoy. Andrew denies any wrongdoing.