Andrew instructed not to use King’s money to pay for legal action

The former Duke of York is launching a bid to quash search warrants which led to his arrest, with a private High Court hearing due to take place on Thursday.Andrew receives an annual stipend – the amount of which has not been disclosed – provided by Charles from his private funds, but a Palace source said it has been made clear that these monies should not be used to fund the judicial review.The source added Andrew’s legal defence was a matter for him and his lawyers, and that Buckingham Palace has no role in determining its strategy or actions.The late Queen’s second son was arrested on his 66th birthday earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.Read MoreThe Telegraph previously reported that Andrew has been granted permission to challenge whether Thames Valley Police acted lawfully over the searches relating to his arrest in February.A judge at the Old Bailey issued warrants which allowed police to raid Andrew’s residence on the Sandringham estate and his former Windsor home, Royal Lodge.A police car at the entrance to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk (Gareth Fuller/PA)PA ArchiveOn Monday, a judicial spokesperson confirmed a hearing in Andrew’s legal claim is due to take place at 2pm on Thursday at the High Court, before Mr Justice Hilliard.The clarification from the Palace source will be seen as an attempt by the King to distance himself from the legal proceedings.When Andrew was arrested on February 19, the monarch issued a written statement, insisting “the law must take its course”.Criminal cases are brought by the Crown Prosecution Service in the name of the King, as the reigning monarch.The former duke, who now lives on the King’s private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation.The King and Queen with the Princess Royal and the then-Duke of York at an Easter Sunday service in 2023 (Yui Mok/PA)PA ArchivePolice began their searches of the properties on the same day, with the force confirming on February 24 that they had ended.The judicial spokesperson said the hearing will concern a bid by Thames Valley Police to restrict access to court documents, with the hearing to begin in private.It is not known whether Andrew will attend the hearing.The legal definition of misconduct in a public office can include a wide range of conduct including sharing confidential financial information, financial misconduct, wilful neglect of duty, and sexual misconduct.It also covers corruption and improper interference, conflict of interest, perverting the course of justice, dishonesty or fraudulent conduct, and misconduct leading to personal gain.Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson (Adam Davy/PA)PA ArchiveLate last year, the King banished his brother from the monarchy, removing both his right to be a prince and his dukedom over his association with Epstein.In 2022, the late Queen stripped Andrew of his honorary military roles and he gave up using his HRH style, in a dramatic fallout from the civil sex case brought by Virginia Giuffre, who later died by suicide.Ms Giuffre alleged she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew, which he vehemently denies, including when she was 17, and also during an orgy, after she was trafficked by Epstein.Andrew paid millions to settle the civil sex case with her in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “Whilst our investigation into misconduct in public office continues, we are engaged in legal proceedings in relation to warrants previously obtained from the Central Criminal Court.“As these legal proceedings are currently ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”