Ex-prince Andrew released after arrest over misconduct relating to Epstein
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Mr Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving a police station in Aylsham in the British county of Norfolk on Feb 19, after a day of questioning by detectives.
PHOTO: REUTERS
AYLSHAM, Norfolk – Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles’ younger brother, was released from police custody on the evening of Feb 19 after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Feb 19, was questioned all day by detectives from Thames Valley Police.
Earlier in February, the police said they were looking into allegations
The arrest of the senior royal,
“I have learnt with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,” King Charles said in a statement.
A Reuters witness saw Mr Mountbatten-Windsor leaving a police station in Aylsham, eastern England, where he was met by a small group of photographers and television crew, just after 1900 GMT (3am on Feb 20 in Singapore).
A Reuters photograph taken after his release shows him seated inside a car, appearing visibly shaken.
Thames Valley Police said later on Feb 19 that “the arrested man” had been “released under investigation”.
‘Law must take its course’
Although Buckingham Palace was not informed in advance about the arrest, King Charles said the authorities had the family’s “full and wholehearted support and cooperation”.
“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,” the monarch said in his statement.
“Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”
The King visited a fashion show in London
Britain’s King Charles (second from left) with British Fashion Council chief Laura Weir (left) and British designer Stella McCartney at the Tolu Coker Winter 2026 runway show in London on Feb 19.
PHOTO: EPA
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he regrets their friendship.
His office did not respond to a request for comment and he has not spoken publicly since the release of more than three million pages of documents
Those files suggested Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had in 2010 forwarded to Epstein reports about Vietnam, Singapore and other places he had visited on official trips as the government’s Special Representative for Trade and Investment.
He was forced to step down from that role in 2011 after his close links to Epstein first emerged.
“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,” Thames Valley’s Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement.
“We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”
The arrest marks a new low for the former prince, who was forced to quit all official royal duties in 2019 over his ties with Epstein and was then stripped by his older brother of his titles and honours in October 2025
Police officers outside Wood Farm, where Mr Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested, in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Feb 19.
PHOTO: EPA
Unmarked police cars
Earlier, six unmarked police cars and around eight plain-clothes officers were pictured at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in eastern England where Mr Mountbatten-Windsor now resides.
Thames Valley Police officers were also searching the mansion on the King’s Windsor estate where Mr Mountbatten-Windsor lived until he was forced out amid anger at the Epstein revelations.
While being arrested means that police have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed and that the royal is suspected of involvement in an offence, it does not imply guilt.
A conviction for misconduct in a public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and cases must be dealt with in a Crown Court, which deals with the most serious criminal offences.
Police have previously said misconduct in public office, which is a “common law” offence and is not covered by written statute legislation, involved “particular complexities”.
Giuffre lawsuit
In 2022, the King’s brother settled a civil lawsuit
The current police investigation is not related to this or any other allegation of sexual impropriety.
“Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty,” the family of Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in 2025, said in a statement.
In response to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s earlier arrest, US President Donald Trump said it was a “shame”.
“I think it’s very sad. I think it’s so bad for the royal family,” Mr Trump told reporters. “It’s very, very sad to me... to see what’s going on with his (King Charles’) brother.”
Were Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to ultimately face criminal charges, he would join a very small group of senior British royals who have formally been accused of offences.
His elder sister, Princess Anne, was fined for speeding in 2001, and the following year became the first royal to be convicted of a criminal offence in 350 years when she appeared in court to plead guilty to failing to stop one of her dogs, named Dotty, from biting two children.
King Charles I was tried for treason in 1649 towards the end of the English Civil War, found guilty and beheaded.
The misconduct investigation is not the only accusation against Mr Mountbatten-Windsor into which police are looking.
Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic has reported him over allegations he was involved in the trafficking of a woman to Britain for sex in 2010. Thames Valley Police said they were assessing allegations that a woman had been taken to an address in Windsor, where the former prince lived until recently.
US lawmakers have also said he should testify before committees in the US over what he knew about Epstein. REUTERS
Meanwhile, former British prime minister Gordon Brown has called for a police investigation into the extent of Epstein trafficking women without proper checks by the authorities through London’s Stansted Airport, saying this had been overlooked by previous inquiries into Mr Mountbatten-Windsor.
Essex Police said on Feb 18 they were looking into the issue.
