Former Prince Andrew arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office revealed in Epstein files

London — Former Prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested Thursday for suspected misconduct in public office after the revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein files. The younger brother of King Charles III was arrested on his 66th birthday, about two weeks after an anti-royal organization asked police to investigate documents indicating that Andrew shared sensitive government information with the late American sex offender when the royal was working as a British trade envoy.

Why was former Prince Andrew arrested?

Thames Valley Police confirmed just over a week ago that it was assessing claims against Mountbatten-Windsor that arose in the latest release of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice to determine whether a formal investigation was warranted.

In a statement on Thursday, Thames Valley Police confirmed that, “as part of the investigation, today (19/2) we have arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.” He said the man, whose name was not identified in accordance with police procedures, “remains in police custody at this time.”

Shortly after 8 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET), six unmarked police vehicles were seen arriving at Wood Farm. Andrew’s new residence at King Charles’ Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England. The Reuters news agency later said police were also seen on Thursday at Royal Lodge, Mountbatten-Windsor’s former residence on the royal family’s estate in Windsor, near London.

If Andrew is ultimately charged with misconduct in public office, the offense carries a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment in Britain.

King Charles says “the law must take its course”

king charlesin a statement issued Thursday, said it “learned with the deepest concern of the news about Andrew
Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office.”

“What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this matter is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, you have our full and sincere support and cooperation. Let me say it clearly: the law must take its course,” the king said, adding that he would not comment further amid the investigation into his brother, and that the rest of the royal family would “continue with our duty and
service to all of you.”

In an interview Thursday with BBC News, News themezone’ sister network, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “no one is above the law” when asked about Mountbatten-Windsor.

“I think it’s a matter for the police, they will carry out their own investigations, but one of the basic principles of our system is that everyone is equal before the law and no one is above the law,” Starmer said.

Last week, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on behalf of the king that the royal family would cooperate if police came to ask questions about Mountbatten-Windsor.

“The king has made clear, in words and through unprecedented action, his deep concern about the allegations that continue to come to light regarding Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said in a statement. “While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as would be expected.”

News themezone has sought comment from Mountbatten-Windsor’s representatives repeatedly since Epstein’s files first revealed her close ties to Epstein. He didn’t respond, but in the past he had always denied any wrongdoing.

Virginia Giuffre’s family reacts to Andrew’s arrest

King Charles stripped his brother of his royal titles last year amid intense scrutiny over Andrew’s friendship with Epstein and allegations made by Americans. Virginia Giuffre that she was trafficked into having sex with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was a minor.

Mountbatten-Windsor denied those allegations, but reached a agreement with Giuffre in 2022paying him around $16 million, according to British media reports. Giuffre committed suicide last year.

“Finally, today, our broken hearts have been soothed by the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty.” Giuffre’s brothers said in a statement shared with News themezone on Thursday. “On behalf of our sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, we extend our thanks to the UK’s Thames Valley Police for their investigation and arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He was never a prince. To survivors around the world, Virginia did this for you.”

Mountbatten-Windsor had previously suggested that an undated photo showing him with Giuffre and Epstein’s close associate Ghislaine Maxwell may have been faked, and Maxwell made the same statement in a jailhouse interview in early 2023, but among the documents released by the US government this year was a draft email that appears to show Maxwell confirming its authenticity.

In the message sent by “G Maxwell” to Epstein in 2015, she wrote: “In 2001 I was in London when [name redacted] I met several of my friends, including Prince Andrew. A photo was taken because I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family.”

Giuffre had claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew in Florida when she was 17, after Maxwell trafficked her to the meeting.

What’s in Epstein’s files on Andrew?

While previous allegations about Andrew’s actions in Epstein’s files largely focused on the former prince’s alleged encounters with young women alongside Epstein, the anti-monarchy group Republic earlier this month called for a formal investigation into his actions as a British trade official.

Emails among the millions of published documents Statements from the US Department of Justice on January 30 appear to show that the former prince passed on confidential reports about his visits as an official British trade envoy to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam, including details of investment opportunities.

An email thread shows that after traveling to Asia on November 30, 2010, Mountbatten-Windsor sent official reports about her visits, sent by her then special advisor Amit Patel, to Epstein within minutes of receiving them. There was no message from the then-prince to Epstein accompanying the forwarded message.

Another email exchange between the men the following month appears to show Mountbatten-Windsor sharing files he describes as “a confidential report” on potential investment opportunities in southern Afghanistan, where British forces were based at the time.

Then-Prince Andrew said he was sharing the documents with Epstein to seek his “comments, views or ideas about who I could usefully show this to to attract some interest” in the opportunities outlined in the report.

The allegations echoed similar revelations from the latest tranche of Epstein files suggesting that former British ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, shared sensitive government information with the late American financier. London Metropolitan Police confirmed an investigation about its actions earlier this month.

Starmer’s decision to pick Mandelson for the key diplomatic post brought Big pressure on UK leader to resignalthough following the resignation of his chief of staffit seemed likely that Starmer would keep his job, at least for the time being.