Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew and brother of King Charles III, has been arrested at his Sandringham residence in Norfolk.
The arrest, carried out by Thames Valley Police, is on suspicion of misconduct in public office, stemming from his controversial ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Thames Valley Police had announced the opening of the investigation just days earlier, on February 16, focusing on allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential UK trade documents and sensitive information with Epstein during his tenure as Britain’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 to 2011.
hese claims emerged from recently unsealed U.S. Department of Justice files related to Epstein, which detailed emails and communications between the two men, including Mountbatten-Windsor’s sharing of itineraries and reports from a 2010 Southeast Asia tour.
According to police statements, the probe involves “particular complexities” and has included consultations with the Crown Prosecution Service.
Statement from police
The full statement from police is as follows:
As part of the investigation, we have today (19/2) 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.
The man remains in police custody at this time.
We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance. Please also remember that this case is now active so care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court.
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.
“It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence.
“We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”
Legal troubles
This is not the first time Mountbatten-Windsor has faced scrutiny over his Epstein connections. In 2022, he settled a civil lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault when she was 17, for approximately £12 million without admitting liability.
The new allegations include claims of trafficking a woman to the UK for sexual exploitation and potential breaches of the Official Secrets Act.
Additionally, there are investigations into whether his protection officers turned a blind eye to activities on Epstein’s private island, Little St James.
The case is part of a broader wave of UK investigations tied to the Epstein files, including probes into former ambassador Peter Mandelson for similar misconduct allegations.
