Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: search warrants quashed, investigation continues
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has kept a low profile at Sandringham since a February arrest. On 8 October the High Court heard that the search warrants used against Andrew were unlawful, but police say their investigation goes on.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February, on the morning of Andrew's 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The allegation is that confidential information was passed to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while Andrew was the UK's trade envoy. Daily MirrorL “Andrew was arrested in February, on the morning of his 66th birthday, after it was alleged he passed on confidential information to convicted sex offender” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “In February, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office” Read at Daily Express ↗ Left · 1Andrew spent 12 hours in police custody in Norfolk and was released under investigation. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Daily MirrorL “Andrew then spent 12 hours in police custody in Norfolk before being released under investigation.”“He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1Since then the former Duke of York has reportedly been seen only a few times, driving or walking a dog around the Sandringham estate, where Andrew lives at Marsh Farm. The Daily Mirror says this led many to believe Andrew has little contact with the outside world. Daily MirrorL “the former Duke of York has only been spotted a few times driving his car and walking his dog around the Sandringham estate”“holed up in Marsh Farm with little contact to the outside world” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Left · 1A source close to Andrew told The Times that this picture is wrong: "He's having a very nice time, thank you very much", going shooting and seeing loyal friends. Another friend told The Sun that Andrew is "incredibly buoyant" and convinced of eventual exoneration. These are anonymous accounts from people close to Andrew. Daily MirrorL “He’s having a very nice time, thank you very much. He goes out, he goes off shooting with friends”“He seems incredibly buoyant despite everything he has been through and is really upbeat.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1Andrew brought legal action against Thames Valley Police and the Central Criminal Court to quash the search warrants that preceded the arrest. A palace source said the defence was a matter for Andrew and the lawyers, and that Buckingham Palace has no role in its strategy. Andrew was also warned not to use private funds provided by the King to pay for the case. Daily MirrorL “the former prince is taking legal action against both the police force and the Central Criminal Court in a bid to quash search warrants”“Buckingham Palace has no role in determining its strategy or actions”“Andrew was warned that he is not to use private funds provided from the King to pay for his legal action.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Right · 1On Thursday 8 October, the High Court judge Mr Justice Hilliard confirmed that Andrew and the police had reached an agreement under which the warrants were ruled unlawful. The judge said that quashing the warrants "does not bring the investigation to an end or mean that the whole of the investigation is unlawful". Daily ExpressR “High Court judge Mr Justice Hilliard, confirmed that Andrew and the police had reached an agreement, with the search warrants used at the time ruled unlawful.”“The fact that the search warrants were quashed does not bring the investigation to an end or mean that the whole of the investigation is unlawful,” Read at Daily Express ↗
Right · 1Thames Valley Police said separate proceedings are under way to decide how seized material will be handled and whether it can lawfully be kept. The force said its investigation into alleged misconduct in public office by a man in his 60s from Norfolk remains ongoing. Daily ExpressR “remains ongoing, and we continue to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry”“Legal proceedings are currently ongoing to decide how material seized during the searches will be managed” Read at Daily Express ↗ Right · 1On LBC on 9 October, the royal biographer Ingrid Seward said she did not know whether Andrew would return to the Royal Family. She said the family are talking to and seeing Andrew, and that Andrew "could return to the outskirts" of it. The Daily Express reports that LBC viewers reacted with outrage. Daily ExpressR “We know that they are talking to him. We know they're seeing him, and I feel that he could return to the outskirts of the Royal Family.”“LBC viewers were left outraged by the prospect of Andrew's royal return.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Daily Mirror leads with sources close to Andrew who say Andrew is not brooding at Sandringham and is confident about the legal challenge.
- Emphasis
- Anonymous friends' reassurances, the planned High Court hearing and the King's stipend with its limits on funding legal costs.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Written before the hearing, so it does not cover the outcome on 8 October.
- Charged language
- “disgraced royal”“holed up”
- For example
-
“Don’t believe all that 'poor Andy' c**p.” — Daily Mirror
“the disgraced royal has been keeping a low profile” — Daily Mirror
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Daily Express treats the court outcome as a "victory" and builds the story around speculation about a royal return and public anger at the idea.
- Emphasis
- Seward's comments on LBC and the angry viewer reactions. Police and judge statements come lower down.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little on Andrew's daily life at Sandringham or the anonymous friends' accounts.
- Charged language
- “exposed”“disgraced former prince”“legal triumph”
- For example
-
“The disgraced former prince could be hoping to rejoin the Royal Family.” — Daily Express
“following his legal triumph over Thames Valley Police” — Daily Express
What every side reports
- Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
- The allegation relates to passing confidential information to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.
- Andrew challenged the search warrants in legal action against Thames Valley Police.
Where accounts differ
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What the court outcome means
- Left
- Sources close to Andrew say the case is a first step towards being completely exonerated.
- Right
- The Express calls it a "legal triumph", but quotes the judge and police saying the investigation continues.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor person
Andrew denies wrongdoing. Friends say Andrew is upbeat and expects to be exonerated. The Express reports the speculation that Andrew might return to the Royal Family's fringes.
“He is utterly convinced that one day he will be completely exonerated.” — Daily Mirror
“Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.” — Daily Express
Left1 article
-
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor 'not feeling sorry for himself' as he spends time with 'loyal' friends
Mixed Relays friends' upbeat portrayal of Andrew's quiet life while noting the ongoing investigation and denial of wrongdoing.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's next move 'exposed' – and Brits won't be happy
Critical Frames the court result as a win and a possible route back to royal life, stressing public outrage.
- 7 Oct 16:49 First Daily MirrorL Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor 'not feeling sorry for himself' as he spends time with 'loyal' friends
- 9 Oct 09:21 +40h 32m Daily ExpressR Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's next move 'exposed' – and Brits won't be happy
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.