In a stunning turn of events, British police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, once known as Prince Andrew, on suspicion of serious misconduct in public office. The arrest, first reported by the BBC, stems from accusations that he may have shared confidential government information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a British trade envoy.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the arrest of ‘a man in his sixties from Norfolk’ on charges of misconduct in public office, adding that searches were being conducted at properties in Berkshire and Norfolk. While the police statement did not name Mountbatten-Windsor directly, the details provided align with the public allegations against him. Officers were seen at the Sandringham residence, where he currently resides.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s long-standing connections to Epstein have been under scrutiny for years, leading to him being stripped of his royal titles. This latest investigation marks a dramatic new chapter in his public downfall. He has consistently maintained his innocence.
Prior to the police investigation being publicly announced, Buckingham Palace had issued a statement on February 9th, indicating readiness to cooperate if King Charles III or the palace were approached by law enforcement. The statement emphasized King Charles III’s deep concern regarding the allegations surrounding Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct, expressed through both his words and decisive actions.
Adding to the existing accusations of sexual offenses, a new set of documents released by the Department of Justice on January 30th brought to light emails suggesting that Mountbatten-Windsor might have indeed shared confidential documents. One particular email reportedly shows him forwarding official reports about his 2010 visits as an envoy to South Asia to Epstein, documents originally sent to him by his assistant. This new evidence reignites questions about the extent and nature of his relationship with the disgraced financier, long after he claimed their ties had been severed.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscored the principle that ‘nobody is above the law,’ just hours before the BBC broke news of Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest. Starmer asserted that this fundamental rule must be applied equally to everyone, including in this high-profile case.