Prince Andrew faces renewed police investigation over alleged 2002 Royal Ascot misconduct

Thames Valley Police are examining a claim that Prince Andrew behaved inappropriately with a woman at the Royal Ascot racing festival in June 2002. The alleged incident occurred while the event was attended by Queen Elizabeth II, the future King Charles III, Prince Edward and Princess Beatrice. Detectives are treating the matter as part of a broader inquiry into misconduct in public office that now also includes possible sexual offences, corruption and fraud.

Andrew was arrested earlier this year on his 66th birthday on suspicion of passing confidential information to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. He was stripped of his royal titles and removed from public duties after the scandal. A survivor of Epstein, Jess Michaels, has accused Buckingham Palace of shielding Andrew by ignoring a cache of emails from 2020 that allegedly show he shared government information while serving as a trade envoy. The palace has declined to comment, citing the ongoing police investigation. Law‑makers and former officials have called for a public inquiry into the royal household’s handling of the case.

The police investigation continues to seek witnesses, including former cabinet ministers and senior civil servants, as they assess the full scope of Andrew’s alleged wrongdoing.