Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has reportedly been banned from horse riding following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Royal aides warned the former prince it would be a “bad look” for him to be seen enjoying himself on horseback while under police investigation, according to The Sun.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by Thames Valley Police last Thursday on his 66th birthday, and questioned for 11 hours before he was released to return to his new home in Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate. He is accused of sharing confidential information with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while acting as the UK’s trade envoy.
A source told The Sun: “Since his arrest last week he has been ordered not to go horse riding. It’s considered a bad look. They don’t think he should be seen grinning and smiling on his horse like he was in Windsor.
“But it was one of the few things he actually enjoyed doing so what on earth is he going to do with his time?”
The reported restrictions would come as a blow to the former prince, who is known for his love of horse riding and was spotted on a horse not long after he was stripped of his titles last year.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the matter.
The UK government is set to release files detailing his appointment as trade envoy as MPs unanimously supported a motion from the Liberal Democrats asking for the public release of papers, including any vetting and any correspondence from Peter Mandelson, from the role he held between 2001 and 2011.
Lord Mandelson was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Monday, following similar allegations of having passed sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary.
MPs from all sides lined up to admonish the former prince in the Commons on Tuesday, with Conservative minister Alex Burghart saying it was “possible to identify the hand of Epstein” in Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment to the role back in 2001.
And one of Sir Keir Starmer’s ministers, trade minister Sir Chris Bryant, called Mr Mountbatten-Windsor a “rude, arrogant and entitled man” who was on a “constant self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle”.
Monica Harding, MP for Esher and Walton, told the Commons the former prince stayed in his post for 10 years despite having a “reputation that preceded him” while concerns were “met with a shrug”.
Before entering politics, Ms Harding worked as the director of communications at the British Council, with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor having visited as a trade envoy.
“Before his arrival, senior staff in both the embassy and the British Council were rolling their eyes – his reputation preceded him,” the MP said.
“I was told it was a containment exercise, that overseas missions feared putting him out there in case he said something inappropriate, that he was arrogant and that he wasn’t on top of the detail of his brief.
“Rather than looking forward to his visit as an opportunity to play up Britain, instead, it was thought that he would do damage.”
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in his links with Epstein but has not commented on the latest developments.
Police announced on Tuesday night officers had concluded searching his former residence, the Royal Lodge in Berkshire, after an almost week-long raid in relation to the allegations.
Thames Valley Police’s assistant chief constable Oliver Wright said: “Officers have now left the location we have been searching in Berkshire. This concludes the search activity that commenced following our arrest of a man in his sixties from Norfolk on Thursday.
“We understand the significant public interest in this case and our investigation remains ongoing.
“It is important that our investigators are given the time and space to progress their work. We will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so, but this is unlikely to be for some time.”
