Scottish Police Investigate Epstein’s Visits to Balmoral

On October 30, Police Scotland confirmed it was investigating information about visits to Balmoral by former Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The estate is the royal family’s private property in Scotland. Police said the inquiries were at an early stage and declined to discuss details, adding that they were being guided by evidence and the needs of survivors.

The investigation follows allegations that women had been brought to the estate through trafficking. Images released by U.S. authorities appear to show Epstein and Maxwell at Balmoral in 1999, and other pictures appear to show Andrew and Epstein on a shooting trip there. Flight logs indicate Andrew and Maxwell flew from Luton to Edinburgh aboard Epstein’s privately owned aircraft in September 2006; Epstein was not on board.

Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. He was taken into custody in February amid suspicion of misconduct in his public role over separate accusations that he passed sensitive information to Epstein during his time as a British trade envoy. He was released under investigation, and that inquiry remains active.

Other British police forces are also examining material connected to the release of Epstein files, including London’s Metropolitan Police, the Thames Valley force and Surrey Police. The National Police Chiefs’ Council said no countrywide inquiry is underway at present and that assessing the material could take time.