Police feared Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor would invoke the King to block raids on his homes, court documents reveal

Thames Valley Police secretly obtained Old Bailey search warrants for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's homes after fearing he would claim the properties belonged to King Charles and demand officers seek royal permission first. Detectives warned the judge that any delay seeking Buckingham Palace's consent could cost them critical evidence. The warrants — used to raid Royal Lodge and his Sandringham home in February — have since been ruled unlawful by the High Court.

Police considered Andrew a suspect 'in a number of serious offences', including forwarding official government reports to Jeffrey Epstein 'within minutes of receiving them'.

Detectives were hunting 'paperwork, diaries, business records' from his time as Special Representative for Trade and Investment on trips to Singapore, China and Hong Kong in 2010.

Andrew was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in a public office; he has not been charged with any offence.