Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was questioned for almost 12 hours at a police station in Norfolk before being released under investigation that evening. Photographs showed unmarked police cars at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, where he was arrested at about 8am. Officers also searched his former home, the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
The arrest relates to allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor shared sensitive information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy. Emails released by the US justice department reportedly showed him sharing reports on official visits and a confidential brief on investment opportunities in Afghanistan. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
King Charles expressed his “deepest concern” but said the law must take its course and gave his “full and wholehearted support and cooperation” to the police. Prince William and Catherine are understood to support the king’s remarks. Virginia Giuffre’s family, whose sister accused Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual abuse (claims he denied), said the arrest showed “no one is above the law”. Maria Farmer, an early Epstein survivor, said the arrest was “just the beginning of accountability”.
Donald Trump called the arrest “a shame” and “very sad” for the royal family, adding that it was interesting that Epstein was now being discussed after his death. Thames Valley police confirmed that the Home Office was alerted 30 minutes before the arrest, but neither the king nor Buckingham Palace was informed in advance.
