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Could Andrew Face 'Life in Prison' if Convicted in Police Probe? Law Expert Weighs in

Cover Image Source: Mark Richards - WPA Pool
Cover Image Source: Mark Richards - WPA Pool
Feb. 14 2026, Updated 08:24 AM. ET
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faced another blow after the latest documents from the Epstein files showed that he had used his position as a UK trade envoy to share confidential government information with the disgraced financier. Following a formal complaint by the anti-monarchy group Republic, Thames Valley Police are currently 'assessing the information' and have launched an official probe. If convicted of a serious breach, criminal solicitor Chloe Jay says the former Prince could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York attends the QIPCO King George Weekend at Ascot Racecourse on July 27, 2019, in Ascot, England. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attends the QIPCO King George Weekend at Ascot Racecourse. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

In a conversation with HELLO!, Jay revealed that the maximum penalty for a serious breach of information would be life imprisonment, but explained that a full sentence could be unlikely. However, she believed Mountbatten-Windsor's sentence could be for a "substantial period of time" depending on the "real consequences" of what was found. Meanwhile, Solicitor Dr Jennifer Obasekia stressed the "seriousness of the breach" being crucial, especially if it included "sensitive military information." She told the outlet, "It's the level of trust that has been breached; if it's extremely high, the risk to the public and the risk to the government, those will all be things to look at."

(Melania Trump, Prince Andrew, Gwendolyn Beck, and Jeffrey Epstein at Palm Beach, Florida. Image Source: Getty Images| Davidoff Studios)
Melania Trump, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Gwendolyn Beck, and Jeffrey Epstein at Palm Beach. (Image Source: Getty Images| Davidoff Studios)

If Mountbatten-Windsor is contacted by the Thames Valley Police, the first step would be to ask him to attend a voluntary interview. Simarjot Singh Judge, criminal defence solicitor at Judge Law, explained, "The first step would typically be an invitation to attend a voluntary interview or, in some cases, an arrest if police believe it is necessary. At that stage, legal advice is absolutely crucial, and no one should engage with police questioning without a solicitor present." However, he noted that any investigation may take months or sometimes even years, depending on the seriousness of the allegations.

Prince Andrew arrives for the Requiem Mass service for Katharine, Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Jordan Pettitt - Pool
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrives for the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent. (Image Source: Getty Images | Jordan Pettitt - Pool)f

As reported by the BBC, the Thames Valley Police are currently 'assessing the information' after a formal complaint by Republic to explore the matter. According to emails dated late 2010, an individual identified as 'The Duke' forwarded internal reports to Epstein regarding official trade missions to Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and China. Perhaps more concerning is a Christmas Eve message from the same year, in which he allegedly presented a 'confidential brief' regarding investment opportunities in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, a region under intense military and reconstruction oversight by British forces.

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