Police searches continue at Andrew's former Royal Lodge home over weekend

Searches continued at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home in Windsor on Saturday as the government considers removing him from the line of succession following police investigations.

Andrew was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegations were made against him following the release of files related to paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

He is alleged to have shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.

Thames Valley Police previously said it was reviewing allegations after emails released by the US Department of Justice appeared to show Andrew sharing reports of official visits with the disgraced financier.

He has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.

Despite being stripped of his title last year, the former Duke of York is still eighth in line to the throne and an Act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew and prevent him from ever becoming king.

Sir Keir Starmer’s Government will consider introducing such legislation once police have finished their investigation into the King’s disgraced brother, it is understood.

The Liberal Democrats said it would support the move to remove him from the monarchy’s line of succession. Its leader Sir Ed Davey said it would be “intolerable” for Andrew to succeed to the throne and that the scenario is “not as remote as some people think”.

Any changes to the line of succession would require the agreement of other countries which share the UK monarch, including Australia, Canada and Jamaica.

It is also understood that an influential group of MPs will meet to consider launching a parliamentary probe into the role of UK trade envoys.

Any inquiry would start by focusing on potential governance issues within the wider system and lessons to be learned, avoiding specific commentary on Andrew – who spent 10 years in the role – until there is no risk of prejudicing criminal proceedings, it is understood.

This weekend the royal family will be attempting to conduct their duties as usual, with the Prince and Princess of Wales scheduled for public appearances.

Meanwhile, Lord Peter Mandelson – who has also had his two properties searched by police in relation to documents featured in the Epstein files – was seen leaving his north London home on Saturday.

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A taxi arrived as the former business secretary was seen leaving his front door carrying a tote bag. He smiled at the taxi driver before entering the car, moving past a small group of waiting photographers.

Andrew spent 11 hours in police custody on Thursday, on his 66th birthday, before being released under investigation, after allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.

Detectives continued to search Andrew’s former home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire, on Friday. The force said searches at a property in Norfolk, Andrew’s home on the Sandringham Estate, have concluded.

After his younger brother’s arrest, the King said in a statement that “the law must take its course” and the police have “our full and wholehearted support and co-operation”.

Thames Valley Police, which is leading the investigation, is yet to receive any “early investigative advice” from the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the allegation, it is understood.

The 14 Commonwealth countries where the King is head of state are Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

Andrew had stepped down from public duties in 2019 after his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein.

This meant he had already ceased to be an active counsellor of state, who can deputise for the monarch if he is overseas on an official trip or ill.

But as counsellors of state are drawn from the line of succession, removing him from it would officially resolve any question over Andrew taking such a role.

Andrew was pictured slouching and looking drained and exhausted in the back of a vehicle as he left Aylsham police station in Norfolk on Thursday evening.

He arrived back at Sandringham later, his car sweeping past waiting journalists.

On Thursday evening, Donald Trump said the arrest was “very sad”. The US President added: “I think it’s so bad for the royal family.”

Trump, speaking to reporters as he headed to Georgia for an event, praised Andrew’s brother, the King, and said he “would be coming to our country very soon”.

He said: “When I see that, it’s a very sad thing. To see it, and to see what’s going on with his brother, who’s obviously coming to our country very soon, and he’s a fantastic man, the King, so I think it’s a very sad thing.”

It is understood that neither the King nor Buckingham Palace had been informed before the arrest on Thursday morning.

However, the Home Secretary was alerted to the arrest shortly before Andrew was taken into custody, it is understood.

Thames Valley Police denied briefing the Home Office before the arrest, but issued a statement from the National Police Chiefs’ Council to clarify that the NPCC did so.

The statement read: “In line with routine practice, the National Police Chiefs’ Council alerted operational colleagues within the Home Office of the arrest. This gave 30 minutes’ notice before Thames Valley Police made the arrest.”

At around midday, Charles released a statement in which he said the police “have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation”.

“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,” he added.

The King carried on with his duties after Andrew’s arrest with planned ambassadorial in-person audiences in the Throne Room at St James’s Palace.

While arriving at an engagement in The Strand, central London, Charles was met with questions about his brother which he did not respond to.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are understood to support Charles’s statement.

Andrew became the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001.

He stepped down in 2011 amid the furore over his friendship with Epstein.

This is the Talking Royals - our weekly podcast about the royal family, with ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship and Producer Lizzie Robinson.