Thames Valley Police (TVP) and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) are conducting separate investigations concerning the royal household. TVP is examining allegations of misconduct in public office against Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor, including a newly reported claim of inappropriate behavior at Royal Ascot in 2002. Concurrently, the MPS has issued misconduct notices to 23 royal protection officers for alleged dereliction of duty at Windsor Castle, with the inquiry expanding to other royal residences.

泰晤士河谷警察局 (TVP) 與倫敦警察廳 (MPS) 正分別就王室成員之事宜進行調查。TVP 正在調查安德魯·蒙巴頓-溫莎涉嫌在公職中行為不端的指控，其中包括近期接獲舉報其於 2002 年皇家 Ascot 賽馬會期間有不當行為。與此同時，MPS 已向 23 名王室保護官發出違規通知，指其在溫莎城堡涉嫌玩忽職守，且調查範圍已擴展至其他王室住所。

The investigation into Mountbatten‑Windsor, initiated following the release of documents from the U.S. Department of Justice concerning Jeffrey Epstein, led to his arrest on 19 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was interviewed under caution and subsequently released under investigation. Searches were conducted at his former residences in Windsor and Norfolk. TVP has confirmed that the scope of the inquiry includes allegations of sexual misconduct, as the legal definition of misconduct in public office encompasses a broad range of offenses, including sexual misconduct, corruption, fraud, and willful neglect of duty. A specific allegation has emerged that Mountbatten‑Windsor behaved inappropriately toward a woman at Royal Ascot in 2002, an event attended by Queen Elizabeth II. It remains unclear whether this claim was reported to authorities at the time or more recently. TVP has appealed for potential victim‑survivors to come forward, expressing concern that the public may perceive the investigation as limited to the sharing of confidential information. A significant legal challenge involves establishing whether Mountbatten‑Windsor held a public office during the period of the allegations, a matter not clearly defined in law. If this cannot be proven, TVP would continue to examine evidence of other separate offenses. The force has submitted a formal request to the U.S. Department of Justice for the original Epstein documents, but has not yet received them, with U.S. authorities requiring a formal international legal assistance request that could take months.

針對蒙巴頓-溫莎的調查是在美國司法部公布有關傑弗里·艾普斯坦的文件後啟動的，導致其於 2 月 19 日因涉嫌在公職中行為不端而被捕。他在被警告後接受了問話，隨後在調查期間獲釋。警方對其位於溫莎與諾福克的前住所進行了搜查。TVP 確認調查範圍包括涉嫌性行為不端，因為法律上對「公職行為不端」的定義範圍廣泛，包括性不端、貪污、詐騙及故意玩忽職守。目前出現一項具體指控，指蒙巴頓-溫莎在 2002 年由英女王伊莉莎白二世出席的皇家 Ascot 賽馬會中，對一名女性有不當行為。目前尚不清楚該項指控是在當時就向當局舉報，還是近期才舉報。TVP 呼籲潛在的受害者現身，擔心公眾可能會認為此次調查僅限於分享機密資訊。一個重大的法律挑戰在於需釐清蒙巴頓-溫莎在被指控期間是否持有公職，此項在法律上定義並不清晰。若無法證明，TVP 將繼續審查其他獨立罪行的證據。警方已正式要求美國司法部提供艾普斯坦的原始文件，但尚未收到，因美國當局要求正式的國際法律協助請求，這可能需要數月時間。

Separately, the MPS has broadened its investigation into allegations that royal protection officers at Windsor Castle abandoned their posts and slept while on duty. Twenty‑three officers have been served with misconduct notices; 21 have been placed on restricted duties, and the remaining two are not formally restricted but will not be deployed to any royal residence during the investigation. The inquiry, described by Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley as addressing conduct falling below expected standards, has expanded to include protective duties at other royal residences, including potentially Buckingham Palace. The Royal Household has been informed of these developments. The investigation will determine whether the alleged conduct constitutes misconduct or gross misconduct, the latter potentially leading to dismissal. This probe follows previous security breaches at Windsor Castle, including a trespass incident in June involving a man arrested on suspicion of trespass on a protected site and possession of Class A drugs.

另外，MPS 擴大了對溫莎城堡王室保護官涉嫌棄職及在崗位上睡覺的調查。共有 23 名警官收到違規通知；其中 21 人被限制職務，其餘兩人雖未正式受限，但在調查期間將不會被部署至任何王室住所。警務處長 Mark Rowley 爵士形容此次調查是針對低於預期標準的行為，目前調查已擴展至其他王室住所的保護職務，可能包括白金漢宮。王室成員已獲悉這些進展。調查將確定涉案行為屬於違規或嚴重違規，後者可能導致被解僱。此次調查是在溫莎城堡先前發生保安漏洞後進行的，包括 6 月發生的一起闖入事件，當時一名男子因涉嫌闖入受保護地點及持有 A 類毒品而被捕。

Both investigations remain ongoing. The Mountbatten‑Windsor inquiry faces procedural and legal obstacles, including the definition of public office and access to U.S. documents. The MPS investigation into protection officers continues to assess the conduct of personnel assigned to royal residences, with disciplinary proceedings pending the outcome of the review.

兩項調查目前均在進行中。蒙巴頓-溫莎的調查面臨程序與法律障礙，包括公職的定義以及獲取美國文件的問題。MPS 對保護官的調查則繼續評估派駐王室住所人員的行為，相關紀律處分將視審查結果而定。