Police Scotland probe Andrew Mountbatten's ties to Epstein and Maxwell

Police Scotland is conducting active inquiries into the activities of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislane Maxwell during their time at Balmoral Castle.

The Daily Express reported that the inquiry relates to allegations that women were trafficked to the royal residence in Aberdeenshire.

Epstein, who died in 2019, and Maxwell, who was jailed in 2022 for sex trafficking, are understood to have visited the castle with Mountbatten-Windsor, who has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Police Scotland stated that the inquiries are at a very early stage and that it would be inappropriate to comment further.

In February, the force said it wanted to 'speak to anyone with information' about Epstein's private jet using Edinburgh Airport. At the time, officers said they had not received any reports or complaints relating to the trip.

Flight logs indicate that Mountbatten-Windsor and Maxwell flew from Luton to Edinburgh on Epstein's private jet with two other passengers on 1 September 2006.

An image of Epstein and Maxwell at Balmoral was released by US prosecutors during Maxwell's sex trafficking trial. It is believed to have been taken in 1999, when Mountbatten-Windsor reportedly invited the couple to stay at the castle.

Epstein and Maxwell were reportedly regular guests at royal residences in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The Epstein Files, released by the US Department of Justice last year, included an email from someone named 'A' to Maxwell which said they were at Balmoral and asked for 'new inappropriate friends'.

The message, sent to Maxwell on 16 August 2001, begins: 'I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family.' Later in the email, the sender asks: 'How's LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?' before signing off 'see ya A xxx'.

Epstein was 66 when he died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was jailed for 20 years in 2022 for her role in procuring girls for Epstein.

Last October, it was confirmed that Andrew had been stripped of his 'prince' title and would be leaving his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge.