Former Duke of York challenges legality of police search warrants in court

The former Duke of York has filed a lawsuit contesting the lawfulness of search warrants that permitted police raids on his Sandringham Estate residence and his former Windsor home, Royal Lodge, in February. The case will be heard by Mr Justice Hilliard at the Royal Courts of Justice, with Thames Valley Police requesting that the associated court papers remain confidential. The hearing will start in private, and a judgment will be delivered in open court later.

The prince was previously arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegations he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein, but he maintains his innocence. Legal commentator Sean Caulfield explained that a warrant could be invalidated for reasons such as exceeding its scope, judicial error, or procedural flaws, though he considers these scenarios unlikely. If the claim succeeds, the former duke could be awarded compensation, and his legal costs have already reached tens of thousands of pounds.