The man formerly known as Prince Andrew has been arrested.
BBC News is reporting that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, which is the first time a modern Royal has been arrested and represents a watershed moment.
Andrew’s association with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has dominated headlines for weeks and BBC News reported that Thames Valley Police said they were assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former Prince with late sex offender Epstein. This morning, photos showed cars arriving at his estate in Norfolk.
A Thames Valley Police statement confirmed that a “man in his sixties from Norfolk” had been arrested “on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” adding that it is “carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.”
“The man remains in police custody at this time,” added the police.
Per national guidance, the police did not name the man but he is being reported widely as being the former Prince. Andrew has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. Today is his birthday.
Thames Valley Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “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.”
Danny Shaw, the BBC’s former home affairs correspondent, told BBC News that it was “significant” that Andrew was arrested and not interviewed under caution. He added that it was unlikely that the former Prince would have been aware that police intended to visit his home.
Earlier this morning, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “nobody is above the law” when asked about Andrew’s behavior, although he declined to say whether the former prince should hand himself in for questioning to UK police.
Andrew has strenuously denied wrongdoing as he has been pressed over his relationship with Epstein, which has been back in the spotlight following the release of the Epstein Files.
His association with Epstein became worldwide news following his botched BBC Newsnight interview in 2019 with Emily Maitlis, which was a total humiliation.
Since the Epstein Files have come out, the situation has severely worsened for Andrew. He lost his Prince title, which was stripped by his older brother, King Charles, and has had to move home. More allegations have followed, much of which appeared to contradict the remarks he made in the Newsnight interview.
For weeks, many in the U.S. and UK, including relatives of Virginia Giuffre, the now-deceased woman who Andrew settled with in 2022, have called on him to give testimony in the States.
Meanwhile, UK lawmakers yesterday said they may investigate Andrew for for his conduct while working as a trade envoy for the UK.
Andrew’s arrest is totally unprecedented and he is the first modern royal to be arrested. The rest of his family are barely speaking with him. King Charles III recently stripped him of his titles and earlier this month Prince William, the heir to the throne, said he and wife Kate Middleton were “deeply concerned” by the latest Epstein revelations.
The Epstein Files scandal has drawn in a host of politicians, tech leaders and entertainment figures, among them Casey Wasserman, Barry Josephson and Brett Ratner.
Andrew is so far the only person to have been arrested since the latest tranche of Epstein Files were released.