Andrew latest updates: Police searches continue at Royal Lodge after former prince is released under investigation

A number of unmarked vehicles believed to be police cars have been entering Royal Lodge today as searches continue following Andrew's arrest.

Last night Thames Valley Police said searches in Norfolk at Andrew's new home in Sandringham had concluded but that activity in Berkshire was still continuing.

Police were seen entering Windsor's Royal Lodge, Andrew's home of more than 20 years, yesterday following news of his arrest.

Earlier this morning, two police officers were seen leaving the front gates leading to Royal Lodge in Windsor, as a helicopter circled the property.

Unmarked vans, believed to be police vehicles, have been entering the grounds throughout Friday morning.

by Inderdeep Bains, Deputy Chief Reporter

West Yorkshire Police has become the 10th force to confirm they are reviewing the explosive tranche of Epstein files.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: ‘We are assessing the detail of the information that’s been made public to determine any potential links to the West Yorkshire area’.

Here's a reminder of the nine police forces also assessing information:

• Metropolitan Police 

Examining claims that royal protection officers 'turned a blind eye' during visits to Epstein's private island and has launched an investigation into Peter Mandelsonover claims he passed sensitive information to Epstein

• Surrey Police

Seeking information regarding an allegation made in Virginia Water in the 1990s

• Thames Valley Police

Assessing claims that Epstein sent a young woman to the UK for a sexual encounter with Andrew at Royal Lodge in 2010

• Essex Police

Assessing information  which suggests Epstein trafficked sex victims to the UK via Stansted airport

• Bedfordshire Police

Assessing Epstein's use of London Luton Airport

• Police Scotland

Asking for information about Epstein's use of Edinburgh Airport

• West Midlands Police

Assessing Epstein's use of Birmingham Airport

• Wiltshire Police

Reviewing its records and supporting the Met Police in its investigation.

• Norfolk Constabulary

Reviewing Epstein files but have not received specific allegations

by Aidan Radnedge

Arrested former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faced having a mugshot and his fingerprints taken during 12 hours of police questioning.

The former Duke of York would have been treated like a 'common criminal' as he was taken into custody on Thursday before being released last night, experts say.

Photographs, fingerprints and DNA swabs would likely have been taken, according to Government guidance - while the ex-prince would be offered a cup of tea and one phone call.

A Government website page explaining arrest procedures states: 'The police have the right to: take photographs of you; take fingerprints; take a DNA sample, such as from a mouth swab or head hair root; swab the skin surface of your hands and arms. They do not need your permission to do this.'

Retired Met Police sergeant Graham Wettone, author of How To Be A Police Officer, described the likely conditions during Andrew's stay, telling the Daily Mail: 'It'll be no bigger than a box-room in a three-bed semi.

'There's no facility for any preferential treatment in any custody suite I've ever been in. You can't have an upgraded room, you can't get upgraded meals - you get what's there. Microwaved.'

• Read the full story here

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s place in the line of royal succession is something Parliament 'is going to have to consider when the time is right', Sir Ed Davey has said.

The Liberal Democrat leader said the monarchy will want to ensure the former prince, who is still eighth in line to the throne despite having lost his title, cannot become king.

An act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew from the line of succession.

'The most important thing right now is that the police be allowed to get on with their job, acting without fear or favour,' Sir Ed said.

'But clearly this is an issue that Parliament is going to have to consider when the time is right, naturally the monarchy will want to make sure he can never become king.'

Alison Hammond has been blasted for yet ANOTHER blunder on This Morning while discussing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest.

The TV personality, 51, was once again addressing the developing news surrounding the disgraced royal's arrest on Thursday under suspicion of misconduct in public office. Prior to this, Andrew was accused of having sex with the late Virginia Giuffre when she was underage.

Virginia claimed she was trafficked to the prince by the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew denies having ever met her, despite paying her millions in an out-of-court settlement.

When the subject came up on the show, despite its notoriety, Alison mispronounced Virginia's surname, calling her Virginia 'Guff' and not Virginia Giuffre.

She said: 'Should we talk about some of the victims? The relatives of the late Virginia Guff, who claimed she was trafficked to prison to have sex with Andrew, have shared their reaction to his arrest.'

This went far from unnoticed by This Morning viewers, who were still reeling from the host's bizarre decision to question why Andrew was arrested on his birthday yesterday.

• Watch the video below and read the full story here

New disturbing photographs of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor playing with a mystery toddler and a ball resembling a woman's breast inside Royal Lodge emerged today.

The bizarre pictures, apparently taken in 2011 at his grand Berkshire royal home, capture Andrew kneeling and talking to the little boy who is clutching a so-called 'boob ball'.

In a further image the toddler is shown picking up the lewd sphere off the plush dark wood parquet floor.

The then Duke of York is also shown grinning with the child on a sofa in pictures published for the first time just hours after his arrest by police following a raid on Sandringham.

Royal Lodge is currently being searched by officers investigating the former prince, who was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Thursday. He was bailed after 11 hours in custody.

• Read the full story here

A wedding is taking place at a chapel in Windsor Great Park while a helicopter circles nearby Royal Lodge and members of the media gather outside the gates.

As police continue their searches at Andrew’s former home in Berkshire, guests are celebrating a marriage less than 500ft (150m) away at the Royal Chapel of All Saints.

The chapel, which is also known as Queen Victoria’s Chapel, was used as a place of worship by the late Queen Elizabeth II, and was where one of Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice, married.

The helicopter, believed to be linked to the media, prompted some upset among members of the public entering Windsor Great Park, with some commenting on its disruptive noise.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor spent the majority of his 66th birthday in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The former prince was released on Thursday evening after 12 hours, following a police swoop that morning at his new home in Sandringham, Norfolk.

The King, Andrew's elder brother, issued a statement declaring his 'full and wholehearted support' for the police - adding: 'The law must take its course.'

Andrew was previously second and is now eighth in line to the throne.

He has been stripped of his royal titles, but some suggest he should now be taken out of the line of succession.

What do you think? Vote here in the Daily Mail's latest poll:

POLL OF THE DAY: Should Andrew be removed from the line of succession?

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor spent the majority of his 66th birthday in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been urged to give up his place as eighth in line to the throne following yesterday's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Conservative MP Andrew Bowie said the former prince should be removed from the line of succession if he is found guilty of the offence, and pushed him to do so voluntarily.

The shadow Scotland secretary, told GB News:

I think it would be the decent thing. Of course, if he’s found guilty of this, I think Parliament would be well within its rights to act to remove him from the line of succession.

But, let’s remember, he’s not been found guilty of anything just yet – he has yet to be charged with anything. So we have to let the police investigation run its course, and I think we should all act accordingly subsequent to that.

People living close to Andrew's new home at Sandringham have described him as a 'scapegoat' as they reacted to his arrest today.

A resident of Dersingham, near the King’s estate, described his reaction to the former duke’s arrest on Thursday morning as 'difficult'.

He said:

I’d say there’s no smoke without fire, is it? They’re certainly hounding him, alright. Obviously there’s something to look at.

Bricklayer Jamie Jackson told The Times:

My mum and my nan all follow [the royals] — anyone my age doesn’t care. I don’t know anyone that supports him round here.

Luke Schrier, 47, added:

I just think Andrew needs to go. If we went back 200 years ago, he’d have been beheaded. It’s an embarrassment to England because this is going to be worldwide.

But Magda Hope, 67, told the newspaper:

I do feel very sorry for him because he’s the scapegoat. They make an example of him when there’s so many others. What’s happening with Mr Trump?

And a retired teacher from King’s Lynn, who did not give his name, added:

I think it’s a bit of a witch-hunt, but he’s horrible.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said there should be a full statutory inquiry following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Asked for his reaction to the arrest while he was campaigning in Gorton, Greater Manchester, Mr Polanski said:

I think it’s pretty awful. I think there are lots of questions to be asked.

We obviously need to wait for the legal process to make its way, but I would say we really need a full statutory inquiry into public figures from institutions, where crimes have been committed – if they’ve been committed – what we knew, what other people in those institutions knew and, where necessary, to make sure that the appropriate people are removed.

Mr Polanski said he did not believe the country should have a monarchy.

He said:

The monarchy are doing a pretty good job in themselves of not having their proudest moments over various issues we’ve seen in the last couple of years and, when the public are ready to have that national conversation about the monarchy, I think issues like this certainly don’t help the monarchy’s case.

These pictures show police have surrounded Royal Lodge as officers carrry out searches at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former home for a second day in a row.

Aerial images show police are standing guard outside the 30-room property where Andrew lived for more than 20 years.