Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is taking legal action against Thames Valley Police concerning search warrants that were executed before his arrest in February. The former Duke of York's lawyers are challenging the legality of warrants used at his Sandringham property and Royal Lodge in Windsor, as part of the investigation following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The legal challenge is a bid for a judicial review to examine the basis on which the search warrants were granted. The warrants were issued by a judge at the Central Criminal Court on February 18, the day before Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest on his 66th birthday. The action is brought against the chief constable of Thames Valley Police and the Central Criminal Court.

Thames Valley Police confirmed they are involved in legal proceedings related to warrants previously obtained. A spokesperson stated that commenting further would be inappropriate given the ongoing legal nature of the case. Police were observed searching properties associated with Mountbatten-Windsor for several days after his arrest.

Legal experts suggest that even if Mountbatten-Windsor is successful in having the warrants quashed, it may not automatically lead to the return of any seized material. Criminal lawyers note that police can often reapply to retain evidence if they have grounds for immediate seizure, meaning a more fundamental flaw in the warrant's issuance would be required for the material to be returned.

The arrest and subsequent searches followed revelations from documents released by the US Department of Justice concerning Jeffrey Epstein. Emails appearing to show official documents being shared by Mountbatten-Windsor with Epstein and others during his tenure as the UK's trade envoy were among the information published.

Mountbatten-Windsor had already been stripped of his military titles and royal patronages by King Charles. This action followed earlier reports that indicated he had maintained contact with Epstein beyond the point he had publicly stated their association had ended.

A court hearing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon to commence the review of the legal challenge. The initial part of the hearing will be held in private, with a request from the police to keep certain documents confidential set to be heard first.

The legal proceedings add another layer to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Mountbatten-Windsor's connections to Epstein and the subsequent investigation into his alleged misconduct.