LONDON: Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formally known as Prince Andrew, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared confidential government documents with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to statements from Thames Valley Police and media reports.
Thames Valley Police said a man in his sixties from Norfolk had been arrested and remained in custody.
In line with national guidance, the force did not name the suspect. However, British media, including the BBC, reported that the arrest related to King Charles III’s younger brother.
“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,” police said in a statement.
“The man remains in police custody at this time.”
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.”
Police warned that the case was now active and urged caution in reporting to avoid contempt of court.
Allegations over confidential reports
The arrest follows the release last month of millions of pages of documents from the US Justice Department’s investigation into Epstein.
According to British media reports citing those files, Andrew is alleged to have sent confidential trade reports to Epstein in 2010 when he was serving as the United Kingdom’s special envoy for international trade.
The documents reportedly suggested that he forwarded reports concerning Vietnam, Singapore and other destinations he had visited on official trips.
Earlier this month, Thames Valley Police said they were assessing allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor had passed documents to Epstein.
The force later confirmed that it had opened a formal investigation into alleged misconduct in public office, a common law offence not defined in statute and described by police as involving “particular complexities”.
The anti-monarchy campaign group Republic said it had reported Andrew to police after the release of more than three million pages of Epstein-related documents by U.S. authorities.
Searches at Sandringham
British newspapers reported that six unmarked police cars and around eight plain-clothed officers were seen outside Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in eastern England, where Andrew has been living.
He moved there after vacating Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle earlier this month.
Images circulating online appeared to show unmarked vehicles at the property.
It was not immediately clear which police force carried out the arrest or precisely where it took place. However, Thames Valley Police covers areas west of London, including Windsor.
There was no immediate comment from Buckingham Palace.
Long-running controversy
Andrew, who turned 66 on Thursday, has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his relationship with Epstein. He has previously said he regretted the friendship.
Epstein, a US financier, pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.
He was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges in New York and later died in jail while awaiting trial, in what authorities ruled a suicide.
Andrew’s ties to Epstein have shadowed the British royal family for more than a decade.
In 2019, his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, forced him to step back from royal duties and end his charitable work after a widely criticised interview with the BBC in which he sought to explain his links to Epstein.
Subsequent developments deepened the crisis. More details about the relationship emerged in a book published last year.
King Charles III later stripped Andrew of the right to use the title “Prince” and required him to leave his longtime residence near Windsor Castle, according to media reports.
Last week, Buckingham Palace said it would cooperate in the event of any police inquiry into Andrew’s links to Epstein, in what observers described as an unprecedented move.
