AYLSHAM, England, Feb 19 – Britain’s royal family was shaken on Thursday after King Charles’ younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested by police on suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with allegations involving the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. After a full day of questioning, Andrew was released from custody later in the evening and remains under investigation.
The arrest, which took place on Andrew’s 66th birthday, is widely seen as unprecedented in modern British history due to his senior royal status. Police are examining claims that, while serving in an official government role, Andrew passed confidential state documents to Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in 2019. The case has renewed intense public and political scrutiny of the monarchy’s relationship with accountability and the rule of law.
Arrest, Police Investigation, and Royal Response
Andrew was detained earlier in the day and questioned by detectives from Thames Valley Police as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct in public office. This offence, which exists under common law rather than statute, concerns situations in which a public official is suspected of abusing their position or failing to carry out their duties properly. Police have said such cases are complex and require a high threshold of evidence.
A spokesperson for the police later confirmed that the “arrested man” had been released under investigation, meaning inquiries are continuing and no charges have yet been brought. Andrew was seen leaving a police station in the Norfolk town of Aylsham shortly after 7 p.m. local time. Photographs taken at the scene showed him seated in the back of a car, appearing visibly shaken, as photographers and television crews looked on.
In a statement issued the same day, King Charles said he had learned of his brother’s arrest “with the deepest concern.” The monarch emphasized that while Buckingham Palace had not been informed in advance, the family would fully cooperate with the authorities. “The law must take its course,” he said, adding that the royal family would continue to carry out its public duties during the investigation. The statement was attributed to palace officials familiar with the king’s position.
Andrew, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and once eighth in line to the throne, has long denied any criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein. His representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment following his release. According to people briefed on the matter, the current inquiry focuses strictly on alleged misuse of office rather than any sexual misconduct.
Earlier in the day, several unmarked police vehicles and plainclothes officers were seen at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, where Andrew now lives. Officers were also reported to have searched a residence on the Windsor estate, where he lived previously before stepping back from royal life amid controversy. Legal experts note that an arrest indicates reasonable suspicion but does not imply guilt, and any eventual prosecution would need to be heard in a Crown Court, where the most serious criminal cases are tried. Conviction for misconduct in public office can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Epstein Connections, Past Controversies, and Wider Fallout
The investigation has its roots in Andrew’s past role as the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for Trade and Investment, a position he held until 2011. Documents released in recent years by U.S. authorities in connection with Epstein suggested that Andrew had shared reports and briefing materials about countries such as Vietnam and Singapore with Epstein after official overseas trips. Those documents, according to officials familiar with them, raised questions about whether sensitive government information had been handled appropriately.
Andrew stepped down from his trade role more than a decade ago after his friendship with Epstein became public. He later withdrew from all official royal duties in 2019 following widespread criticism of his conduct and a televised interview that drew public backlash. In October last year, King Charles formally stripped his brother of remaining titles and military honors, citing the need to protect the integrity of the monarchy, according to palace sources.
The present police inquiry is separate from a civil lawsuit brought in the United States by Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager. Andrew has consistently denied those allegations and settled the case in 2022 without admitting liability. Police have stressed that the current investigation does not relate to that settlement or to any allegation of sexual impropriety.
Following news of the arrest, a statement issued on behalf of Giuffre’s family said they felt a measure of relief that “no one is above the law, not even royalty.” Giuffre died by suicide last year, a fact confirmed by family representatives at the time.
Reaction has also come from abroad. U.S. President Donald Trump described the situation as “very sad” when asked by reporters, adding that it was damaging for the royal family. Meanwhile, anti-monarchy campaign group Republic said it had submitted additional complaints to police, including allegations related to the trafficking of a woman to Britain in 2010. Thames Valley Police confirmed it was assessing those claims as part of a broader review.
Calls for wider scrutiny have also emerged. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged authorities to examine whether Epstein was able to move women through Stansted Airport without proper checks, an issue he said may have been overlooked in earlier inquiries. Essex Police confirmed it is looking into aspects of that concern.
If Andrew were ultimately charged, he would join a very small list of senior British royals to face criminal proceedings. His sister, Princess Anne, was fined for a motoring offence in 2001 and convicted the following year over a dog attack. Centuries earlier, King Charles I was tried and executed for treason during the English Civil War.
For now, Andrew remains free while police continue their work. The case is likely to fuel ongoing debate about transparency, privilege, and accountability at the highest levels of British society. Authorities say further updates will be provided when appropriate, underscoring that the investigation is still at an early stage and its outcome remains uncertain.