King Charles has made clear that the private allowance he provides to his brother should not be directed towards funding a judicial review against Thames Valley Police, according to a royal source.
The King uses his own personal finances to support Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and to maintain his residence on the royal estate at Sandringham. However, the monarch has stipulated that this financial arrangement should not extend to covering the costs of the legal action Mountbatten-Windsor is pursuing to challenge the search warrants that preceded his arrest in February.
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office following the release of information from the Epstein files in the United States. He has repeatedly maintained that he engaged in no improper conduct related to his association with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.
The investigation centres on allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential information with Epstein while serving as the UK's trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, according to reporting on the case. He was arrested on his 66th birthday and released under investigation after being questioned under caution.
Since Mountbatten-Windsor is no longer a working member of the royal family, Buckingham Palace does not speak on his behalf and has distanced itself from his legal proceedings. When he was arrested, the King stated that the "law must take its course", and the Palace has reinforced that it plays no role in his legal challenge.
What is the judicial review seeking?
Mountbatten-Windsor's legal team is challenging the lawfulness of the search warrants that were executed at Sandringham and Royal Lodge in connection with his arrest. The warrants were issued on 18 February 2026, the day before his arrest, by a judge at the Central Criminal Court, according to court records.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who forfeited his titles as a prince and Duke of York due to his connections with Epstein, is seeking a judicial review to determine whether the search warrants were issued lawfully. A High Court judge has already granted his application for judicial review, according to reporting on the development.
Thames Valley Police confirmed in a statement that it is "engaged in legal proceedings in relation to warrants previously obtained from the Central Criminal Court". The force added: "As these legal proceedings are currently ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."
What happens next in the case?
A private High Court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, 8 October, at 2pm before Mr Justice Hilliard. The hearing will initially consider a request by police to keep certain court documents restricted from public access.
However, a successful challenge to the warrants would not necessarily halt the police investigation, according to reporting on the legal implications. Even if the warrants are ruled unlawful, Thames Valley Police could potentially continue their investigation through other means.
How does the King's allowance fit into this?
The precise amount of the King's financial support to Mountbatten-Windsor has not been made public. However, this funding arrangement was established when Mountbatten-Windsor relocated from his previous residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor to Sandringham, where he now lives under the King's support.
The royal source's statement makes clear that while the King is willing to provide for his brother's accommodation and living expenses, he does not intend for this money to be used to finance the legal battle against the police. This distinction underscores the Palace's formal separation from Mountbatten-Windsor's judicial challenge, even as the King maintains private family support.
