By Islam El-Sakka
Police in Scotland have launched inquiries into the time former Prince Andrew spent at the King's private Balmoral estate with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, authorities announced Friday.
Early-stage investigation
Police Scotland described the inquiries as being at a "very early stage" and emphasized that all investigations are evidence-led with the needs of victim survivors at the center. The force declined to confirm details of the ongoing inquiries, stating it would be inappropriate to comment further.
Previous evidence and arrest
Images released earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Justice appeared to show the former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on a shooting trip at the estate with Epstein. In February, Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested and held for hours by British police on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his links to Epstein, marking the first time in nearly four centuries that a senior British royal had been arrested.
