Fresh Trouble For Andrew as Police Examine Alleged 'Inappropriate Behavior' at Royal Ascot
Investigators at Thames Valley Police are looking into claims that Mountbatten-Windsor behaved inappropriately toward a woman during the Royal Ascot Festival in 2002.
Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of child sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is facing fresh police scrutiny as detectives examine allegations of 'inappropriate behavior' at Royal Ascot in 2002. As revealed by The Sunday Times, investigators at Thames Valley Police are looking into claims that Mountbatten-Windsor behaved inappropriately toward a woman during the renowned racing festival attended that year by Queen Elizabeth II and several other senior royals. They did so as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations. The alleged incident is understood to have taken place between June 18 and June 22. However, it remains unclear whether the claim was reported to police at the time or surfaced more recently. Mountbatten has consistently denied any wrongdoing in all s*xual assault-related cases trailing behind his name in the past.
The latest allegations are reportedly being examined as part of the broader misconduct in public office investigation launched earlier this year against Mountbatten-Windsor. In February 2026, he was arrested at his Norfolk home on the Sandringham estate on his 66th birthday and held for 11 hours for questioning. Then, he was released under investigation. The outlet recently reported that detectives are now working through a list of key witnesses, including former cabinet ministers, royal officials, and senior civil servants, as they gather evidence connected to the disgraced royal’s decade-long role as Britain’s special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011. The investigation initially took shape after the US Department of Justice released Jeffrey Epstein-related files earlier this year.
As the inquiry widens, detectives are also understood to have gained access to Scotland Yard’s files concerning Virginia Giuffre. The late victim had accused the former prince of assaulting her on three occasions when she was 17. Giuffre alleged that one assault took place in 2001 at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor later paid Giuffre a £12 million settlement (approx. $16.1 million) in 2022 without admitting liability. The latest reports reveal that the senior officers at Thames Valley Police recently confirmed that the investigation is now considering a much broader range of possible offenses, including s*xual misconduct, corruption, and fraud.
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright told the outlet, “Misconduct in public office is a crime that can take different forms, making this a complex investigation.” While also urging people with information to come forward, Wright stated, “Whenever a victim-survivor is ready to engage with us, we’re ready for you, at whatever point that may be.” Police additionally indicated that any fresh allegations could either be made part of the current inquiry or examined as standalone offenses. At the same time, a spokesperson for Thames Valley Police revealed, “We cannot go into specifics of our ongoing investigation, but we are following all reasonable lines of inquiry.”
The resurfaced focus on Royal Ascot has also revived attention on Mountbatten-Windsor’s long association with Epstein and Maxwell. According to the report, he regularly attended Ascot events and even hosted Epstein and Maxwell in the royal enclosure during Ladies’ Day in June 2000. Last week, government papers also revealed that Queen Elizabeth had reportedly been ‘very keen’ for her son to receive the trade envoy role, now central to the investigation. Meanwhile, Sir Vince Cable, known for serving as business secretary when Andrew stepped down in 2011, confirmed he had been contacted by police and said he was “very happy to co-operate.”
If you know of any children who are being subjected to abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 422-4453.
