The Director of Public Prosecutions has said investigations into Lord Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could take more than a year to complete.
Andrew served as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 to 2011, stepping down amid scrutiny over his friendship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
He has denied any wrongdoing in connection with his ties to Epstein.
The former prince was stripped of his titles by the King, while Lord Mandelson was removed from his post as the UK ambassador to the US.
Both were arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections with Epstein.
They were subsequently released under investigation.
Speaking about both cases on Thursday afternoon, director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said: “I really don’t think that anyone should expect an early resolution of the investigation.
“It wouldn’t be at all surprising if it took over a year, not because of any lack of urgency, but because of the complexity, and also the international dimension is an extra factor to be considered, notwithstanding that in some cases you can get evidence back in an hour, that’s not always the case, and formal procedures have to be gone through that sometimes involve courts, and that can have significant delay, so complex, time-consuming but no lack of urgency around that case.”
Mr Parkinson said: “As we’ve confirmed, we’re providing early investigative advice and we have been, you know, from the very early stage.”
He added: “The police are responsible for investigations, they don’t have to consult us at all.
“We only become formally engaged when the full file of evidence is sent to us. At that point we, as it were, seize control of the case but in complex cases, and this is one of those, it is well understood that the police would benefit from the input that we can provide and that has been happening at the outset.”
