Police Scotland said it has received “information” and has “active enquiries ongoing” into the time Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell spent at Balmoral, the King’s private estate in Scotland.

Convicted paedophile Epstein visited Balmoral in 1999, reportedly on the invitation of the then Prince Andrew.

An undated photograph from this period appears to show Epstein and Maxwell relaxing at the Glen Beg log cabin on the royal estate.

Pictures previously released by the Department of Justice in the US also appear to show Andrew and Epstein on a shooting trip.

The Daily Express reported that the inquiries relate to claims that women were trafficked to the estate in the Scottish Highlands.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We have received information and active inquiries are ongoing, but these are at a very early stage.

“All inquiries are evidence-led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those inquiries.

“We would never confirm details of ongoing inquiries, and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Multiple forces, including Thames Valley Police, the Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police, also have live investigations linked to the release of the Epstein files, the National Police Chiefs’ Council confirmed.

Located in the Scottish Highlands, Balmoral Castle was privately bought by Queen Victoria in 1852 as a summer retreat, and plays host to the royal family each August.

In 2022, it was where Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96.

King Charles stripped his brother of his prince title and his dukedom last year after further details emerged of his friendship with the late sex offender Epstein.

The former Duke of York was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on 19 February, his 66th birthday, following allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation, and denies wrongdoing, with the police probe ongoing.

An email released in a tranche of the “Epstein files” last year, signed “A”, asked disgraced British socialite Maxwell for “inappropriate friends”.

In one of four emails sent by someone titled The Invisible Man to Maxwell in August 2001, the sender told the now-convicted sex trafficker their “valet” had recently died and they had “left the RN”.

Andrew left the Royal Navy the month before the email was sent.

Another email from the same individual, dated 16 August 2001, said they were at “Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family” before asking Maxwell: “Have you found me some inappropriate friends?”

In March 2002, an email from Maxwell to The Invisible Man said they had passed on a message to an unnamed individual, with that message beginning with: “I just gave Andrew your telephone no.”

The message from Maxwell to the unidentified person also said “Andrew” would be “very happy” if he did some “two-legged sightseeing”.

The former Duke of York moved out of his long-standing home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, earlier this year as files related to the paedophile financier were released by the US Department of Justice.

He was forced to move into Marsh Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, amid public outcry about the rent he paid on the Royal Lodge.

Andrew was the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein.

He received no salary for travelling around the world and at home promoting Britain’s business interests, but criticisms were made about the thousands of pounds spent each year on his expenses and travel costs.

His decision to quit the role came in the same year he was pictured with his arm around his primary accuser, Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked to the former duke at the home of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

Andrew paid Ms Giuffre, a woman he has claimed never to have met, millions of pounds to settle a civil suit in the US in 2022.

Ms Giuffre died by suicide at age 41 in April 2025.