Police Scotland opens inquiries into Epstein and Maxwell visits to Balmoral with Andrew
newsOct 30, 202620156
Police Scotland says it has received information and is carrying out active inquiries into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s reported 1999 stay at Balmoral as guests of Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The force said inquiries are at a very early stage, are evidence-led and place the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those inquiries, and declined to comment further. Photographs released by the US Department of Justice appear to show Andrew and Epstein shooting on the estate. The Daily Express has reported the Scottish inquiries relate to claims that women were trafficked to Balmoral. The National Police Chiefs’ Council confirmed several forces including Thames Valley, the Metropolitan and Surrey police have live investigations linked to material released in the Epstein files, and said identifying potential offending, suspects, victims or witnesses will take time; there is currently no national investigation. Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting sex from girls and Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking a minor. Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on 19 February, was interviewed under caution and denies wrongdoing; he served as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011.
