Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was arrested at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, the UK, Thursday morning after reports emerged that the Thames Valley Police was looking into a complaint over the alleged transfer of confidential documents by the former prince with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
File image of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (IANS)
The UK police on Thursday arrested Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the brother of King Charles, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest came just weeks after former prince Andrew’s name cropped up in Epstein files.
The Thames Valley Police, which carried out the arrest in Norfolk, did not name the Royal family member but said a man in his sixties has been arrested from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The police further said its officers were carrying out searches in Berkshire and Norfolk in connection with the case.
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Andrew had been living in Norfolk since leaving his home in Windsor.
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Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright was quoted as saying in a statement: “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.”
The arrest was carried out at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk this morning, after reports emerged that the Thames Valley Police was looking into a complaint over the alleged transfer of confidential documents by the former prince with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The 66-year-old Andrew, who is celebrating his birthday today, has rejected any wrongdoing on his part.
The Thames Valley Police have been investigating allegations of misconduct in public office as well as claims that a second woman was sent to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The sexual encounter involving the woman and the then-prince allegedly occurred at the latter’s former Royal Lodge residence in 2010. The woman was said to be in her 20s at the time.
The allegations with regard to the transfer of confidential documents relate to the forwarding of official reports about overseas trips to Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Vietnam in 2010 and 2011. These allegations emerged after the US Department of Justice released a fresh tranche of emails, in what has been described as the Epstein Files.
UK media reported that the arrest, for now, appears to be related to just the misconduct in public office allegation, wherein Andrew is alleged to have shared sensitive information with the billionaire child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK trade envoy in 2010.
The arrest came just days after King Charles had expressed “profound concern” over allegations against his brother Andrew, stating he stands ready to support the police in the investigation.
Andrew is not new to scandals and his actions have tested the patience of the Royal family for more than four decades.
Andrew, the second son of late Queen Elizabeth II, had a list of controversies to his name before he was formally stripped of his title and evicted from his royal residence in October last year.
In 1984, Andrew was in the headlines for spraying reporters and photographers with paint while visiting a construction site in Los Angeles, the USA. He later remarked, “I enjoyed that.”
In 2007, the prince sold his house at Sunninghill Park near Windsor Castle for 15 million pounds, a premium of 20 per cent over the asking price, to the son-in-law of then Kazakhstan president. It was later alleged that the deal was aimed at gaining influence in Britain.
Andrew had to step down as Britain’s special trade envoy in 2011 when he was first linked to Epstein. When the disgraced financier was arrested for a second time in July 2019 and later killed himself in a New York jail, Andrew’s case was highlighted again with allegations that he had a sexual encounter with at least one underage girl trafficked by Epstein.
On November 16 that year, Andrew sat for an interview with a BBC reporter but did more damage to himself than repair as he defended his ties with the convicted child sexual offender and also did not show any empathy with the victims.
Just days later, Andrew faced a slew of actions, being barred from any royal duties and being stripped of his role as patron of over 200 charities.
In 2022, Andrew reportedly paid USD 10 million to Virginia Giuffre to settle a New York civil lawsuit. Giuffre had alleged that Andrew had forced sex with her when she was 17. Giuffre later died by suicide in Australia in April 2025.
In 2024, Andrew was also accused of having ties with a Chinese businessman and suspected spy, who had been barred from the UK.
In October 2025, fresh Epstein-related allegations came to haunt Andrew and he was accused of maintaining contact with the sex offender beyond the date of severing ties he had mentioned earlier. In fact, Andrew was reported to have written in an email to Epstein that they were “in this together”.
The same month, amid intense scrutiny and pressure, Andrew announced that he was giving up his royal title of the Duke of York and other honours. Just days later, Buckingham Palace announced that the King had stripped Andrew of his remaining titles and asked him to vacate his royal residence near Windsor Castle. He would no longer be called a prince.
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