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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested at his home in Sandringham in a police raid following revelations about his relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement on Thursday, Thames Valley Police said it had opened an investigation into an offence of misconduct in public office.
“A man in his sixties from Norfolk has been arrested and remains in police custody,” the police said.
The former prince was a special representative for UK trade and investment between 2001 and 2011 and a working royal until giving up his responsibilities in 2019 because of his links with Epstein.
The force last week said it was assessing evidence to decide whether to launch a full investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor for misconduct in public office following revelations over his conduct while in the role.
Thames Valley police has also said it is assessing information relating to the possible trafficking of a young woman for sex with the former prince in 2010.
The arrest marks the first time a member of the UK’s royal family has been apprehended over potential criminal activity in modern times.
The investigation is the second in the UK into a prominent public figure as a result of the Epstein revelations.
London’s Metropolitan Police visited the London home of former Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson this month as part of an investigation over potential misconduct in public office. Mandelson has denied wrongdoing.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s relationship with Epstein came under renewed scrutiny this year when the US Department of Justice released millions of documents relating to the disgraced financier.
Documents showed that Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his “prince” title by his brother King Charles last year, had advocated for Epstein on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates with the Queen in 2010.
They also showed that he had shared confidential information acquired as a result of his trade role with Epstein and his associates.
The files also contained an image of Mountbatten-Windsor on all fours above a young woman.
It was unclear to which activities the arrests were related. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any financial or sexual wrongdoing arising from his links with Epstein and his circle.
King Charles said this month that he was ready to help police investigations into his brother. Earlier on Thursday, asked about the allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Nobody is above the law.”
Epstein was found dead in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex charges. He was previously convicted in 2008 of soliciting sex from an underage girl.
There was no immediate response on Thursday to a request for comment either from Mountbatten-Windsor’s office or Buckingham Palace, the king’s official residence.