ISLAMABAD: British police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III and formerly known as Prince Andrew, on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The arrest occurred on Mountbatten-Windsor’s 66th birthday at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where he has been residing. Thames Valley Police confirmed that a man in his sixties from Norfolk was taken into custody following an investigation sparked by recent revelations in Epstein-related documents.
Officers conducted searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk as part of the ongoing probe. The suspect remains in police custody while inquiries continue, with no formal charges announced yet.
The case centres on allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential government documents with Epstein while serving as the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from 2001 to 2011.
Newly released files by the United States Department of Justice in late January 2026 included emails suggesting that Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded official reports to Epstein. These reportedly covered trade visits, including those to South Asia in 2010, containing potentially sensitive commercial and governmental information.
One documented instance appears to show him sending trade mission summaries prepared by his assistant directly to Epstein, raising questions about breaches of official protocols during his envoy tenure.
Mountbatten-Windsor has long faced scrutiny over his friendship with Epstein, the financier convicted in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution and who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The former royal settled a civil lawsuit in 2022 with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s accusers, who alleged sexual abuse. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein’s criminal activities.
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II stripped him of his military titles and royal patronages, and he was barred from public royal duties. Last year, he was further removed from his “Prince” designation in official contexts amid ongoing fallout.
Thames Valley Police initiated a formal assessment earlier this month after public complaints surfaced following the latest Epstein files release under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The force confirmed opening an investigation into potential misconduct in public office.
King Charles III issued a measured statement supporting “a full, fair and proper process” and affirming the royal family’s cooperation with authorities. He emphasised that “the law must take its course.”
The arrest marks a significant escalation in the long-running Epstein saga’s impact on the British monarchy. Public reaction has been mixed, with some expressing outrage over perceived privilege while others await further evidence.
Legal experts note that misconduct in public office is a serious common law offence in the UK, carrying potential life imprisonment upon conviction. It requires proof of wilful abuse of position for improper purposes.
The investigation does not appear limited to document sharing; prior assessments included unrelated claims from Epstein files, though the current focus is on the trade envoy period.
Mountbatten-Windsor previously stepped down from official duties in 2019 after a controversial BBC interview defending his Epstein ties. That appearance drew widespread criticism and accelerated his withdrawal from public life.
Buckingham Palace has maintained distance from the matter, with no advance notification of the arrest provided to the King or palace officials, according to reports.
Thames Valley Police adhered to national guidance by not naming the arrested individual initially, though multiple sources confirmed his identity.
This development coincides with broader international scrutiny of Epstein’s network, with millions of pages of documents unsealed in recent years revealing associations with prominent figures.
The arrest has reignited debates about accountability for high-profile individuals and the handling of sensitive state information.
As inquiries progress, further disclosures from the Epstein files or police findings could influence public perception and potential legal outcomes.
The episode underscores persistent challenges for the British royal family in managing reputational damage from historical associations.