Royal Aides Impose Horseriding Ban on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Following Arrest
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince, has reportedly been banned from horseriding by royal aides in the wake of his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. According to sources cited by The Sun, aides warned him that it would be a "bad look" to be seen enjoying himself on horseback while under police investigation.
Arrest and Investigation Details
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by Thames Valley Police last Thursday, coinciding with his 66th birthday, and was questioned for 11 hours before being released to return to his new residence at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate. He is accused of sharing confidential information with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as the UK's trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.
A source revealed to The Sun: "Since his arrest last week, he has been ordered not to go horseriding. It's considered a bad look. They don't think he should be seen grinning and smiling on his horse like he was in Windsor. But it was one of the few things he actually enjoyed doing, so what on earth is he going to do with his time?"
Impact on the Former Prince
This reported restriction is a significant blow to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who is well-known for his passion for horseriding. He was spotted on horseback shortly after being stripped of his royal titles last year, highlighting the activity's importance to him. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the matter, maintaining its usual stance of not addressing personal issues involving former members of the royal family.
Government Files and Political Fallout
In a related development, the UK government is set to release files detailing his appointment as trade envoy. This follows a unanimous motion from MPs, led by the Liberal Democrats, calling for the public release of papers, including any vetting processes and correspondence from Peter Mandelson, who served as business secretary during part of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor's tenure.
Lord Mandelson was also arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, facing similar allegations of passing sensitive information to Epstein. The political scrutiny intensified in the Commons on Tuesday, with MPs from across the spectrum criticising the former prince.
MPs' Criticisms and Allegations
Conservative minister Alex Burghart stated it was "possible to identify the hand of Epstein" in Mr Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment back in 2001. Sir Chris Bryant, the trade minister under Sir Keir Starmer, described him as a "rude, arrogant and entitled man" engaged in a "constant self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle".
Monica Harding, MP for Esher and Walton, shared insights from her previous role as director of communications at the British Council, where Mr Mountbatten-Windsor visited as a trade envoy. She told the Commons: "Before his arrival, senior staff in both the embassy and the British Council were rolling their eyes – his reputation preceded him. I was told it was a containment exercise, that overseas missions feared putting him out there in case he said something inappropriate, that he was arrogant and that he wasn't on top of the detail of his brief. Rather than looking forward to his visit as an opportunity to play up Britain, instead, it was thought that he would do damage."
Ongoing Police Investigation
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has vehemently denied any wrongdoing regarding his links with Epstein but has not commented on the latest developments. Police announced on Tuesday night that officers had concluded searching his former residence, the Royal Lodge in Berkshire, after an almost week-long raid related to the allegations.
Thames Valley Police's assistant chief constable Oliver Wright said: "Officers have now left the location we have been searching in Berkshire. This concludes the search activity that commenced following our arrest of a man in his sixties from Norfolk on Thursday. We understand the significant public interest in this case and our investigation remains ongoing. It is important that our investigators are given the time and space to progress their work. We will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so, but this is unlikely to be for some time."
