Police probe Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's stays at Balmoral amid claims Epstein trafficked women to King's estate

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces a new police probe as officers investigate allegations that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women to Balmoral. Police Scotland have confirmed enquiries into stays at the King's estate in the Scottish Highlands by the late convicted paedophile Epstein and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who has since been jailed. There have been claims that women were 'trafficked' to the private Balmoral estate.Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Maxwell are said to have flown to Balmoral on a private jet owned by Epstein in 2006. US prosecutors previously shared a picture of Epstein and Maxwell at a Balmoral log cabin, from a trip to Royal Deeside in 1999. Photos also released by the Department of Justice in the US appear to show Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Epstein on a shooting trip at the estate.A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We have received information and active enquiries are ongoing but these are at a very early stage.'All enquiries are evidence led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those enquiries.'We would never confirm details of ongoing enquiries and it would be inappropriate to comment further.' Buckingham Palace announced last year Mr Mountbatten-Windsor would no longer be known as a prince and would leave Royal Lodge – instead taking up residence on the family's Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell are seen here in a log cabin at Balmoral, in a photo released in 2021 by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York The Duke of York (left) was pictured with sex trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre (centre) and Jeffrey Epstein's longtime confidante and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell (right) Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell are seen here in the countryside near Balmoral Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is pictured here driving in Wolverton, Norfolk, on October 28King Charles stripped his brother of titles after weeks of pressure to act over Andrew's relationship with late financier and convicted paedophile Epstein. That came after the former prince said he would no longer use the title Duke of York following new revelations about his friendship with Epstein and renewed sexual abuse allegations by Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre in her posthumous memoir.Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in April last year, 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 a civil sexual assault case with her in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.Ms Giuffre had previously told how Epstein and his accomplice Maxwell kept her as a sex slave while flying her around the world and offering to their powerful associates 'like a platter of fruit'.She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17 and was three times sexually assaulted by him - a claim which Prince Andrew has denied.A photograph has been widely shared of them together in a London townhouse, his arm around her bare midriff, and was included in Ms Giuffre's lawsuit against him.Epstein killed himself in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving dozens of teenage girls and young women, some as young as 14.In lawsuits, Ms Giuffre said she was a teenage spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's Palm Beach club, when she was approached in 2000 by Epstein's girlfriend and later employee Maxwell.Ms Giuffre said Maxwell hired her as a masseuse for Epstein, but the couple effectively made her a sexual servant, pressuring her into gratifying not only Epstein but his friends and associates.Buckingham Palace said in a statement last October that the King's moves against Andrew were 'deemed necessary notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him'.The statement said: 'His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew.'Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.'Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.'These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.'Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.'Officers have been investigating Andrew for alleged misconduct in public office, after it was suggested that emails he sent to convicted sex offender Epstein while he was the UK's trade envoy contained sensitive information.As plain clothes officers searched his property earlier this year, Andrew was arrested and held for almost 12 hours at Aylsham police station in Norfolk while he was being questioned.He was released under investigation and strongly denies any wrongdoing.It was the first time a royal had been detained by police in more than 350 years.READ MORE: The embarrassing emails and photographs that spelled the end for Prince Andrew READ MORE: Revealed: Bombshell picture of Andrew lying on five women's laps was taken in one of the Royal Family's most treasured rooms