OFFICERS investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are reportedly looking into an allegation that he behaved inappropriately towards a woman at Royal Ascot.

The alleged incident is said to have happened at the racing event in Berkshire in 2002, The Sunday Times reported.

Royal Ascot is a cornerstone of the royal family’s summer calendar, and Queen Elizabeth II was also at the event in 2002, the year of her Golden Jubilee.

The Sunday Times said it is not clear whether the claim about alleged inappropriate behaviour by Andrew was reported to officers at the time or more recently.

A Thames Valley Police (TVP) spokesperson said: “We cannot go into specifics of the investigation, but we are following all reasonable lines of inquiry.”

The force, which covers Windsor and Ascot in Berkshire, has confirmed they will consider allegations of sexual misconduct in their inquiry into the former duke’s potential misconduct in public office.

Detectives are understood to be concerned that the public believes they are only focused on accusations that Andrew shared information while a trade envoy, when in fact the legal terms of the offence under investigation are much broader.

The former prince served as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

He has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender.

Detectives have also made a formal request to the United States Department of Justice for the original versions of the Epstein files, but have not yet received any information.