Will 'Disgraced' Andrew Receive Special Treatment Amid Epstein Probe? Legal Expert Details 'Standard' Path To Possible Charges

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, should not expect special treatment as police continue to investigate his conduct as the UK's trade envoy, a legal expert has said.

The 66-year-old, who served as the United Kingdom's special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 to 2011, was arrested on 19 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The inquiry centres on allegations that he shared private travel information with convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, according to reports. Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to state offences related to procuring a minor for prostitution and solicitation, and was required to register as a sex offender, according to court reporting and subsequent reviews of the plea deal.

Andrew was questioned for around 11 hours before being released from police custody without charge. Thames Valley Police officers are continuing to search his former Windsor residence, Royal Lodge, as part of the ongoing investigation.

Legal Expert Outlines 'Standard' Path In Andrew Case

Speaking to Fox News, legal analyst Simarjot Judge Singh said Andrew's case was likely to follow what he described as a 'sequence of standard steps' within the criminal justice process.

Singh said investigators would now focus on 'continued forensic work on seized devices and documents, further witness inquiries, possible additional interviews, and then a charging decision — often involving the [Crown Prosecution Service] in complex cases'.

He added that the 'likely outcomes are charge, release under investigation, or bail while inquiries continue', stressing that the procedure in such matters is typically governed by evidence rather than the public profile of the individual involved.

'Timelines can be lengthy where digital evidence and official materials are involved,' Singh noted, indicating that the assessment of electronic devices and official correspondence could delay any decision on whether to bring charges.

Under standard practice in England and Wales, police can release a suspect under investigation without bail conditions while inquiries continue, or seek bail with conditions if they consider it necessary to manage risk or secure attendance at future interviews.

Any decision to charge would ordinarily be taken in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), particularly in a politically sensitive or high-profile case.

Former Trade Envoy's Ties To Epstein Under Scrutiny

Andrew's decade-long role as trade envoy placed him at the centre of UK efforts to promote business and investment overseas, involving extensive foreign travel and contact with international figures. His relationship with Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, has long attracted scrutiny.

Photographs of the pair and previous media reports about their association led to sustained public and political criticism, ultimately contributing to Andrew stepping back from royal duties in 2019.

He later settled a separate civil sexual assault claim in the United States without admitting liability; that matter is legally distinct from the current UK police investigation.

The latest allegations suggest that Andrew may have shared confidential or sensitive travel details with Epstein while serving in an official capacity as trade envoy.

Misconduct in public office is a common law offence that can carry a custodial sentence if proved, and is generally used where a public office-holder is alleged to have abused their position to the detriment of the public interest.

Thames Valley Police have not publicly detailed the material seized or the specific nature of the suspected misconduct. No charges have been filed and Andrew denies any criminal wrongdoing.

A charging decision is likely to depend on whether forensic analysis of devices and documents, together with witness testimony and any further interviews, provides what prosecutors consider to be a realistic prospect of conviction, in line with the CPS Code for Crown Prosecutors. Until such a decision is taken, Andrew remains under investigation but is not formally accused of any offence.