Thomas Yates
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested by Thames Valley Police this morning on 19 February.
In a statement made by the Thames Valley Police at 10:03, it was confirmed that the force had “opened an investigation into the offence of misconduct in public office,” and that “a man in his sixties from Norfolk” had been arrested as part of this. Photographs show what appear to be unmarked police cars arriving at Sandringham Estate, Mountbatten-Windsor’s current residence in Norfolk. Searches also began at Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home, the Royal Lodge, in Windsor. It is unclear where Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 today, was arrested specifically.
Earlier this month, Thames Valley Police confirmed that it was assessing allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor had committed misconduct in public office, having liaised with the Crown Prosecution Service with a view to determining whether a criminal investigation was necessary.
The allegations stem from the release of the Epstein files, the personal documents of the deceased convicted paedophile and financier, Jeffrey Epstein. The files show extensive communication between Mountbatten-Windsor and Epstein, and it is suggested that the former prince shared confidential information with Epstein and other personal contacts whilst in his role as UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from 2001 to 2011. Emails in the Epstein files show that Mountbatten-Windsor let Epstein and other contacts know of official visits to Singapore, Vietnam, China and Hong Kong before they took place, and forwarded on the resultant reports minutes after receiving them. Epstein then forwarded these emails to several other contacts.
The files also reinvigorated concern over alleged sexual abuse committed by Mountbatten-Windsor. Virginia Giuffre accused Epstein of trafficking her for sex as a teenager, and alleged that this brought her into contact with Mountbatten-Windsor, with whom she was forced to have sex three times. Allegations have also been brought against a host of other public figures, including US President Donald Trump, whose relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is a subject of intense scrutiny. Giuffre committed suicide in April 2025. Her family has released a statement in the wake of Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, saying that “our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty,” and thanking Thames Valley Police for their investigation and subsequent arrest. Other women had reported encounters with Mountbatten-Windsor on British soil, with one woman alleging that she was sent abroad by Epstein to see Mountbatten-Windsor, where she received a tour of Buckingham Palace after spending the night with him. As it stands, however, the charges relate solely to the mishandling of confidential information, and are not connected with the allegations of Andrew’s sexual offences – though nine police forces in the UK, including Thames Valley Police, are known to be assessing the evidence pertaining to this.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who was relieved of his public duties and removed of his royal styles once the extent of his relationship with Epstein became clear in October 2025, has denied all wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and Giuffre.
King Charles III, who was not given advance notice of the arrest of his brother, has expressed his “full and wholehearted support and co-operation” for the imminent investigation, describing the process as one which will be “full, fair and proper.” The Prince and Princess of Wales have expressed their agreement with this message.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown, responding to reports of Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, revealed that he had provided assistance to the investigation. “I have submitted a five-page memorandum to the Metropolitan, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and other relevant UK police constabularies. This memorandum provides new and additional information to that which I submitted last week to the Met, Essex and Thames Valley police forces where I expressed my concern that we secure justice for trafficked girls and women,” Brown said. At the time of writing, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not made an official statement, but in an interview with BBC Breakfast before news of the arrest broke, he declared that “nobody is above the law” in relation to the allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who is likely to be interviewed under criminal caution after his arrest, could be held for up to 24 hours before the police must decide whether to charge him, release him under continued investigation, or to release him with no further action. The decision to take Mountbatten-Windsor through an arrest warrant, rather than simply questioning him, has sparked questions about whether the police have reached an evidentiary threshold where they feel they can safely charge and convict him.