<\/p>\n
LONDON (AP) – Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former British prince who was stripped of his royal titles because of his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.<\/p>\n
While Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his friendship with Epstein, concerns about Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s links to the late financier have dogged the royal family for more than a decade. But the arrest of a brother of a monarch was an extraordinary development with no precedent in modern times that will no doubt put more pressure on the crown.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the arrest, King Charles III said that the law must take its course in the investigation, and he sought to distance the royal family from Mountbatten-Windsor.<\/p>\n
Thames Valley Police said that a man in his 60s from Norfolk in eastern England was arrested and remained in custody. The force, which covers areas west of London, including Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s former home, did not identify the suspect, in line with standard procedures in Britain, but pointed to its statement when asked to confirm if Andrew was arrested.<\/p>\n
Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday, moved to his brother King Charles III\u2019s estate in Norfolk after he was evicted from his longtime home near Windsor Castle earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Thames Valley Police previously said it was \u201cassessing\u201d reports that Mountbatten-Windsor sent confidential trade reports to Epstein in 2010, when the former prince was Britain\u2019s special envoy for international trade. Those reports stemmed from correspondence between the two men that was among the millions of pages of documents from the U.S. Justice Department\u2019s investigation into Epstein that were released last month.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,\u2019\u2019 Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement. \u201cWe understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Police also said they were searching two properties.<\/p>\n
The arrest came after pictures circulated online that appeared to show unmarked police cars at Wood Farm, Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, with plainclothes officers gathering outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the most spectacular fall from grace for a member of the royal family in modern times,\u201d said Craig Prescott, a royal expert at Royal Holloway, University of London.<\/p>\n
Policing commentator Danny Shaw told the BBC that in most cases, suspects are held between 12 and 24 hours and are then either charged or released pending further investigation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Andrew will be placed in \u201ca cell in a custody suite\u201d with just \u201ca bed and a toilet,\u201d where he will wait until his police interview.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019ll be no special treatment for him,” Shaw said.<\/p>\n
The late Queen Elizabeth II forced her second son to give up royal duties and end his charitable work in 2019 after he tried to explain away his ties to Epstein during a catastrophic interview with the BBC.<\/p>\n
But more details about the relationship emerged in a book published last year, and Charles stripped him of the right to be called a prince and ordered him to move.<\/p>\n
Then came the unprecedented announcement last week that Buckingham Palace was ready to cooperate in the event of a police inquiry into Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s links to Epstein.<\/p>\n
Charles was forced to act after the U.S. Justice Department released millions of pages of Epstein documents that revealed the extent of his relationship with Mountbatten-Windsor and showed that their correspondence continued long after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution.<\/p>\n
After Thursday\u2019s arrest, Charles issued a statement to reiterate that he would cooperate with the investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me state clearly: the law must take its course,\u2019\u2019 the king said in a statement signed Charles R. \u201cAs this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cMy family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges brought by federal prosecutors in New York in 2019. He took his own life in jail while awaiting trial.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press.
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