Police Scotland has confirmed that officers are making inquiries into the time Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell spent at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, following information received by the force.
The police statement, issued on Friday 30 October 2026, confirms that active inquiries are under way but describes them as being at a very early stage. Officers have not publicly identified a suspected offence, named a suspect or announced any charges in connection with the Balmoral inquiries.
The Daily Express has reported that the inquiries concern allegations that women were trafficked to the royal estate. Police Scotland has not confirmed that specific allegation, and the fact that officers are examining information does not establish that trafficking occurred at Balmoral.
What we know about the Balmoral visit
Epstein and Maxwell are reported to have visited Balmoral in 1999 as guests of Andrew, then known as Prince Andrew. Photographs released among US Department of Justice material appear to show Andrew and Epstein on a shooting outing at the estate. The images support accounts of their association and the visit, but do not, by themselves, prove criminal activity.
Balmoral is the Royal Family’s privately owned estate in Aberdeenshire. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to his association with Epstein.
What Police Scotland has said
In a statement supplied to news organisations, Police Scotland said: “We have received information and active inquiries are ongoing, but these are at a very early stage.”
The force said its inquiries are evidence-led and place the needs of victim-survivors at their centre. It declined to disclose further details of the ongoing work.
That response confirms an active police examination. It does not confirm the substance of the Daily Express trafficking allegation or establish who, if anyone, is being investigated for a criminal offence.
What we do not know
- Precisely what information prompted Police Scotland to begin these inquiries.
- Whether officers are examining a particular allegation of trafficking, another alleged offence or several lines of inquiry.
- Whether anyone has made a formal complaint specifically concerning the Balmoral visit.
- Whether any potential witnesses or victims have been identified, or whether evidence beyond historical records has been obtained.
None of these unanswered questions should be treated as proof that a crime took place. Police have not announced an arrest or charge in the Balmoral matter.
Separate Epstein-related police investigations
The National Police Chiefs’ Council has confirmed that Thames Valley Police, the Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police have separate live inquiries linked to material released in the Epstein files. It says there is no single national investigation.
In February 2026, Andrew was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office in a separate investigation concerning allegations related to his former trade envoy role. He was released under investigation without charge. Those proceedings should not be conflated with Police Scotland’s Balmoral inquiries.
The Scottish force also sought information earlier in 2026 about a reported 2006 flight into Edinburgh involving Andrew and Maxwell. Public reporting has not established that this line of inquiry and the Balmoral inquiries concern the same alleged offence.
What happens next?
Police Scotland has given no timetable for its inquiries. Any further developments will need to establish whether the force identifies specific suspected offences, obtains corroborating evidence or changes the status of the investigation. Until then, the confirmed news is that inquiries are under way, not that allegations concerning Balmoral have been proven.
