Buckingham Palace Won’t Fund Prince Andrew’s Legal Fight

Buckingham Palace has made clear that King Charles’s financial support for his brother should not be used for Prince Andrew’s legal funding battle against the police. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, is seeking a judicial review to quash the search warrants behind his arrest in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with a private High Court hearing set for Thursday afternoon.

Prince Andrew’s Legal Funding: A Bill He Must Pay Himself

Because Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is no longer a working royal, Buckingham Palace no longer speaks on his behalf and is not involved in his legal battle. But a royal source has now made the Palace’s position on money explicit: the King’s financial support for his brother should not be directed towards paying for the judicial review.

The amount the King gives his brother has not been disclosed. The allowance was part of the arrangement when the former prince was moved from Royal Lodge in Windsor, and it is drawn from Charles’s private money — including income from the Duchy of Lancaster, private estates and his own investments — rather than the £138 million Sovereign Grant that funds the monarchy from the public purse.

At the time of the arrest in February, the King said that “the law must take its course”, and the Palace has since kept its distance from Andrew’s legal pushback. For Prince Andrew’s legal funding, the message is now unambiguous: the bill is his own.

Judicial Review Over the Search Warrants

Andrew’s lawyers are challenging Thames Valley Police and the Central Criminal Court over the lawfulness of the warrants used to search his Sandringham residence and Royal Lodge — his first public legal response since the arrest. According to The Telegraph, a High Court judge has granted permission for the judicial review to proceed.

The judiciary’s press office confirmed on 5 October that the claim concerns “an application by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for a judicial review to quash search warrants issued by a judge at the Central Criminal Court on 18 February 2026”. The warrants covered Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk and Royal Lodge in Windsor; detectives spent several days at both properties and removed documents and other items.

Thursday’s hearing, listed for 2pm before Mr Justice Hilliard, will begin in private and will deal first with an application by Thames Valley Police to restrict access to court papers. It is not yet known whether Andrew will attend.

The Arrest and the Epstein Files

Andrew was arrested on 19 February — his 66th birthday — on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a common-law offence in England and Wales that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The suspicion arose from material in the American Epstein files released by the US Justice Department. Police are investigating allegations that he passed government documents to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK’s special representative for trade between 2001 and 2011.

He was taken to Aylsham police station in Norfolk and released the same day under investigation after about 11 hours in custody. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing linked to his association with Epstein and has said he regrets the friendship. For more on major British and international stories, see our World section.

Andrew was forced to quit all official royal duties in 2019 over his Epstein ties. In October 2025 Buckingham Palace announced that the King had begun the formal process of stripping him of his style, titles and honours, including the dukedom of York, and that he would leave Royal Lodge.

What Happens Next

Thursday’s private hearing is the first courtroom test of Andrew’s challenge, though the police investigation into alleged misconduct in public office continues regardless of its outcome. Thames Valley Police has confirmed it is “engaged in legal proceedings in relation to warrants previously obtained from the Central Criminal Court” and says it would be inappropriate to comment further while the case is live.

Conclusion

The Palace’s stance draws a sharp line between the monarchy and its former duke: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor must now finance his own fight to overturn the warrants that led to his arrest. With the investigation still open and Thursday’s hearing looming, the legal — and financial — pressure on him is only growing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor challenging in court?

He is seeking a judicial review to quash the search warrants, issued by a Central Criminal Court judge on 18 February 2026, that allowed police to search his Sandringham residence and his former Windsor home, Royal Lodge.

Who is paying for his legal fight?

He is paying for it himself. A royal source says King Charles’s financial support for his brother — an undisclosed allowance from the King’s private money — should not be used for the judicial review, and Buckingham Palace is not involved in the case.

When and why was he arrested?

He was arrested on 19 February 2026, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The suspicion arose from material in the US Epstein files; police are investigating claims he passed government documents to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy.

Has he responded to the allegations?

He has denied any wrongdoing linked to his association with Epstein and says he regrets the friendship. He was released under investigation on the day of his arrest.

When is the next court hearing?

A private hearing is scheduled for Thursday, 8 October 2026, at 2pm before Mr Justice Hilliard. It will first consider a Thames Valley Police application to restrict access to court documents.

Is he still a prince?

No. In October 2025 Buckingham Palace announced the King had begun the formal process of removing his style, titles and honours, including the dukedom of York, over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.