In a historic move, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince, was arrested on Thursday morning at Wood Farm on the King's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk. The arrest occurred on his 66th birthday, with plainclothes officers arriving shortly after 8am to take him into custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Maj Gen Alastair Bruce, a historian and royal watcher, described the arrest as the "most shocking day for the British crown" and "about as critical as the institution could face." Thames Valley Police confirmed they had arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk, adding that he remains in custody while investigations continue.
The King issued a statement expressing his deep concern, stating firmly that "the law must take its course." He emphasized the royal family's full support and cooperation with the police investigation. The Prince and Princess of Wales quickly backed the King's stance, while Prime Minister Starmer had earlier declared that "nobody is above the law."
The arrest comes less than three weeks after the US Department of Justice released millions of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Among the files were emails allegedly showing Mountbatten-Windsor forwarding sensitive government documents and commercial information to Epstein, including a confidential brief on Afghan reconstruction opportunities.
