King Charles Warns Andrew Not to Use Royal Money for Legal Fight

King Charles has warned Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor not to use private money given to him by the monarch to pay for his legal battle against the police. The former Duke of York is trying to cancel search warrants linked to his arrest earlier this year over claims he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein.

The Legal Battle

Mountbatten-Windsor gets a yearly allowance from King Charles, but the exact amount is kept private. Palace sources say this money must not be used for his judicial review. His legal defense is entirely up to him and his lawyers, and Buckingham Palace has no say in his legal strategy. A private high court hearing is set for Thursday at 2 pm before Justice Hilliard, where the court will discuss a request by Thames Valley police to limit access to court documents.

Police Investigation

The legal challenge follows searches by Thames Valley police after Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former duke was accused of sharing sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein while working as a UK trade envoy. Police searched his home on the Sandringham estate and his former home, Royal Lodge, using warrants from the Old Bailey. The searches ran until February 24, and police interviewed him under caution before releasing him under investigation. King Charles previously stated that the law must take its course, and the police confirmed their investigation is still ongoing.

Context

Members of the British royal family often receive financial support from private royal estates, but legal actions involving personal misconduct are typically treated as private matters outside official royal duties. The use of private funds in high-profile legal challenges is a sensitive issue, especially when it involves close relatives of the reigning monarch. Such cases often draw intense public and media scrutiny regarding the financial independence of non-working royals.