Epstein and Maxwell on the Balmoral estate in 1999 (Pic: US Department of Justice)
Police Scotland has launched enquiries into time spent by Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Balmoral.
The force confirmed on Friday that it had received information and that “active enquiries” were now under way.
A statement said: “We have received information and active inquiries are ongoing, but these are at a very early stage.
“All inquiries are evidence-led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those inquiries.
“We would never confirm details of ongoing inquiries and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Police have not disclosed the precise nature of the information they have received.
Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, visited the Royal Family’s private Aberdeenshire estate with Maxwell in 1999.
The visit is understood to have taken place at the invitation of Andrew, then the Duke of York.
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The Daily Express has reported that the enquiries relate to allegations that women were trafficked to the Balmoral estate. Police Scotland has not confirmed that claim and has declined to give further details while its enquiries continue.
Photographs previously released as part of material connected to the Epstein case have placed Epstein and Maxwell at Balmoral.
One image appears to show the pair outside the Glen Beg log cabin on the estate. Other pictures released by the US Department of Justice show Andrew and Epstein together during a shooting trip at Balmoral.
The latest development follows an earlier appeal by Police Scotland for information about Epstein’s links to Scotland.
In February, the force said it wanted to hear from anyone with information following questions about the use of Edinburgh Airport by Epstein’s private aircraft. Police Scotland said at that point it had received no report or complaint relating to the matter but would be keen to speak to anyone with information.
Police forces across the UK have been examining information following the release of millions of pages of material connected to Epstein by the US Department of Justice.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was separately arrested by Thames Valley Police in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
That investigation relates to allegations concerning information allegedly shared with Epstein while Andrew was serving as the UK’s trade envoy. He was interviewed under caution and released under investigation. Andrew has denied wrongdoing.
Thames Valley Police said in May that detectives were continuing to examine a significant volume of information and were working with the US Department of Justice and Crown Prosecution Service.
The Police Scotland enquiries represent a separate investigation into events connected specifically with Scotland and the Balmoral estate.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence in the United States after being convicted of sex trafficking and other offences connected to Epstein.