By Tom Wilkinson
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has given up his gun licence ahead of an expected house move in the new year.
The former British duke was visited by the Metropolitan Police at his Royal Lodge residence in Windsor last month.
UK police would not say why the King’s brother had to give up his shotgun licences but it means he can only use or transport his guns if accompanied.
The Sun reported the ex-prince, who was stripped of his titles due to his links to pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, gave up his licence after discussions.
The UK newspaper said the specialist police officers spoke to a valet about the situation.
The Sun said a factor in the decision might be that Andrew is expected to move to Norfolk in the new year and gun licence holders must inform the authorities about how their weapons will be stored at their new address.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “On Wednesday November 19, Metropolitan Police firearms licensing officers attended an address in Windsor to request that a man in his 60s voluntarily surrender his firearms and shotgun certificate.
“The certificate was surrendered, and we will be not be commenting any further at this stage.”
It is understood the case will be reviewed and Andrew will be informed of the outcome.
It is understood that by voluntarily surrendering his firearms certificate, the former duke will still have supervised access to his guns.
Andrew has a long association with hunting.
An undated photo released by the US Department of Justice this week showed Epstein, his disgraced lover Ghislaine Maxwell and the then Duke of York, holding a shotgun, in shooting gear on a moor, believed to be Balmoral.
In his infamous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, the former prince denied throwing a birthday party for Maxwell at Sandringham, insisting it was “a straightforward shooting weekend”.
He was photographed in 1986 taking part in Jackie Stewart’s Celebrity Challenge clay pigeon shoot, competing for the royal team.
Meanwhile, The Times in London is reporting that Maxwell sought to procure “intelligent, pretty and fun” women “from good families” for a friend she referred to as “Andrew”, according to newly released emails.
The correspondence was released by the US Department of Justice as part of a vast tranche of documents related Epstein.
The messages show Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking of minors, planning a trip to Peru for a friend saved in her contacts as “the Invisible Man” in 2002.
In a message to a contact in Peru on March 3, 2002, she asked for “two-legged sightseeing” to make her friend “very happy”.
While the Invisible Man is not identified in the files, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor conducted a six-day official visit to Peru in March 2002 to mark the 50th year of his mother’s reign. There is no implication that any illegal activity took place on the trip.