Andrew released under investigation as police searches continue at Royal Lodge: Live updates

A number of unmarked vehicles believed to be police cars have been pictured entering Royal Lodge today as searches continue following Andrew’s arrest.

Last night Thames Valley Police said searches in Norfolk at Andrew’s new home in Sandringham had concluded but that activity in Berkshire was still continuing.

Police were seen entering Windsor’s Royal Lodge, Andrew’s home of more than 20 years, yesterday following news of his arrest.

by Alison Boshoff, Editor at Large

You might imagine Sarah Ferguson would be untouchable, commercially, given the stream of revelations about her friendship with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Yet I hear Ferguson has been entertaining offers for big–money speaking engagements – or was, at least until Thursday’s news of the arrest of her ex–husband, the former Prince Andrew.

Exchanges between her and an agent this month show she was hoping to net a fee of £150,000 plus all expenses (including two first–class flights) for a talk later this year.

I understand there’s no official deal between Ferguson and the agency Yrds, founded by her friend, the sports presenter Natalie Pinkham. The agency says it has not represented her since last summer. But after initially denying all knowledge of a deal, Yrds did concede yesterday it had ‘passed on’ an offer to her.

It can also be revealed that while her ex, Andrew Mountbatten–Windsor, is no longer styled a prince, and she stopped using her ‘Duchess of York’ title on official documents in October, Fergie is still using her old email – which includes ‘D of Y’ standing for the title.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are said to be ‘in a state’ after their father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

There has so far been no word from Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson or their daughters with questions mounting over their whereabouts.

However, it was suggested last night that the Princesses have been left in turmoil over their father’s arrest, with one of the girls thought to be with their mother.

Sources also expressed concerns for Ms Ferguson’s mental health, saying the police investigation is ‘catastrophic for her and her girls’.

The former Duchess of York is said to lying low abroad, having spent a few days in the French Alps with friends before moving on to the United Arab Emirates.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s sensational arrest marks the culmination of a torrid saga that has lasted more than quarter of a century.

The former prince’s reckless and greed-fuelled friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has ulitmately brought down his downfall.

Here, Guy Adams charts the course of his relationship with Epstein which includes partying with topless women in Phuket and his trips to ‘Paedo Island’

Read more here:

Allegations facing Andrew of misconduct in public office date back to when the former prince was a UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.

The length of time means police will potentially have millions of documents, messages and files to go through.

It also likely suggests it may be some time before investigators are able to piece everything together and decide whether or not there is cause to charge him.

After gathering and poring over evidence, if police believe they have enough evidence to charge, they present a case file to the CPS.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, would then likely decide whether or not to authorise a charge against the King’s brother.

A haggard Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was driven away from a police station last night following his arrest that shocked the world.

Some 11 hours after officers knocked on his door on the Sandringham estate to arrest him on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a stunned looking Andrew was released under investigation.

Andrew’s arrest sensationally took place on the monarch’s private estate in Norfolk, to where the former Duke of York was recently exiled following his public disgrace.

Neither the King nor Buckingham Palace were informed in advance, signalling the police’s determination to show that no-one – not even a former prince – is above the law.

Just after 7pm, following a day of being questioned, he emerged red-eyed and jowly, the image of his release encapsulating his fall from grace as he tried to cower on the back seat of a car driven by privately funded security guards.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s dramatic arrest at Sandringham yesterday.

Last night Andrew was released from police custody where he spent 11 hours answering questions.

The former prince became the first senior royal to be arrested in modern history after he was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

As his arrest triggered arguably the biggest crisis in the monarchy for nearly 400 years, his brother, the King, insisted Andrew should be subject to the full force of British justice, saying: ‘The law must take its course.’

Searches of Andrew’s former Royal Lodge home are continuing today as Andrew remains under investigation following his release.

Stick with us throughout the day as we bring you the latest on the fallout from Andrew’s arrest.