Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former British prince who was stripped of his royal titles because of his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested overnight on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
While Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his friendship with Epstein, concerns about Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to the late financier have dogged the royal family for more than a decade. But the arrest of a brother of a monarch was an extraordinary development with no precedent in modern times that will no doubt put more pressure on the crown.
After the arrest, King Charles III said that the law must take its course in the investigation, and he sought to reassure the British public that he would continue to serve them.
Thames Valley Police said that a man in his 60s from Norfolk in eastern England was arrested and remained in custody. The force, which covers areas west of London, including Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home, did not identify the suspect, in line with standard procedures in Britain, but pointed to its statement when asked to confirm if Andrew was arrested.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday, moved to Charles’ estate in Norfolk after he was evicted from his longtime home near Windsor Castle earlier this month.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including the arrest of a former prince. (Source: 1News)
Police are looking at whether Andrew sent confidential reports to Epstein
Thames Valley Police previously said it was "assessing" reports that Mountbatten-Windsor sent confidential trade reports to Epstein in 2010, when the former prince was Britain’s special envoy for international trade. Those reports stemmed from correspondence between the two men that was among the millions of pages of documents from the US Justice Department’s investigation into Epstein that were released last month.
“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,’’ 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.”
Royal commentator Dickie Arbiter explains why it is “business as usual” for the family, as King Charles attends an event in central London. (Source: Breakfast)
Police also said they were searching two properties.
The arrest came after pictures circulated online that appeared to show unmarked police cars at Wood Farm, Mountbatten-Windsor’s home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, with plainclothes officers gathering outside.
The allegations being investigated Thursday are separate from those made by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she had been trafficked to Britain to have sex with Andrew in 2001, when she was just 17. Giuffre died by suicide last year.
Still, Giuffre’s family praised the arrest, saying: "Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty."
The family added: "He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you".
A 'spectacular fall from grace'
"This is the most spectacular fall from grace for a member of the royal family in modern times," said Craig Prescott, a royal expert at Royal Holloway, University of London.
The last time a senior British royal was arrested was almost 400 years ago during the reign of King Charles I that saw a growing power struggle between the crown and Parliament.
After the king attempted to arrest lawmakers in the House of Commons in 1642, hostilities erupted into the English Civil War, which ended with victory for the parliamentary forces of Oliver Cromwell.
Charles was arrested, tried, convicted of high treason and beheaded in 1649.
King Charles III says the investigation into Andrew must take its course
The late Queen Elizabeth II forced Mountbatten-Windsor to give up royal duties and end his charitable work in 2019 after he tried to explain away his ties to Epstein during a catastrophic interview with the BBC.
But more details about the relationship emerged in a book published last year, and Charles stripped him of the right to be called a prince and ordered him to move.
Then came the unprecedented announcement last week that Buckingham Palace was ready to cooperate in the event of a police inquiry into Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein.
Charles was forced to act after the US Justice Department released millions of pages of Epstein documents that revealed the extent of his relationship with Mountbatten-Windsor and showed that their correspondence continued long after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges brought by federal prosecutors in New York in 2019. He took his own life in jail while awaiting trial.
After Thursday's arrest, Charles issued a statement to reiterate that he would cooperate with the investigation.
"Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,," the king said. "As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.’"
He addressed the British public, saying: "My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all".
He signed the statement Charles R., in line with the convention that British monarchs use to sign their names, with the R. standing for rex, Latin for king.
It's unclear how long Andrew will be held
Policing commentator Danny Shaw told the BBC that in most cases, suspects are held between 12 and 24 hours and are then either charged or released pending further investigation.
The absolute longest the former prince can be held for is 96 hours — but this would require multiple extensions from senior police officers and a Magistrate’s Court. It is unclear what time Andrew was arrested.
Andrew will be placed in "a cell in a custody suite" with just "a bed and a toilet," where he will wait until his police interview.
"There’ll be no special treatment for him," Shaw said.
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