Britain's King Charles' brother Andrew arrested over Epstein links

Britains King Charles III Andrew arrested over Epstein links — Britain’s King Charles III, Prince Andrew at a funeral in London, UK, September 16, 2025. Photo: Reuters

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor released “under investigation” after arrest linked to Epstein case

LONDON,— Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a former British prince who lost his royal titles over his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing linked to his friendship with Epstein. Still, questions about his relationship with the late financier have followed the royal family for more than ten years.

The arrest of the brother of a reigning monarch marks an extraordinary moment in modern British history and adds new pressure on the crown.

Thames Valley Police said a man in his 60s from Norfolk in eastern England had been arrested and remained in custody.

The police force covers areas west of London, including Mountbatten-Windsor’s former residence.

Following standard British procedure, officers did not name the suspect. When asked whether Andrew had been arrested, police referred to their official statement.

Mountbatten-Windsor turned 66 on Thursday. Earlier this month, he moved to King Charles III’s estate in Norfolk after being asked to leave his longtime home near Windsor Castle.

Police said they are investigating claims that Mountbatten-Windsor sent confidential trade reports to Epstein in 2010, when he was serving as Britain’s special envoy for international trade. Thames Valley Police previously stated it was assessing those claims.

The allegations are based on correspondence between the two men that appeared among millions of pages of documents released last month by the U.S. Justice Department as part of its investigation into Epstein.

Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement that after a detailed review, police had opened a formal investigation into alleged misconduct in public office.

He said authorities recognize the high level of public interest and would provide updates when appropriate.

Police confirmed they were also searching two properties.

The arrest followed images posted online that appeared to show unmarked police vehicles outside Wood Farm, Mountbatten-Windsor’s home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Plainclothes officers were seen gathered near the property.

The current investigation is separate from allegations made by Virginia Giuffre. She had said she was trafficked to Britain in 2001 and forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17. Giuffre died by suicide last year.

In a statement, Giuffre’s family welcomed news of the arrest. They said their broken hearts were lifted by confirmation that no one is above the law, including members of the royal family.

The family added that he was never a prince and said Virginia acted for survivors everywhere.

Royal historian Craig Prescott of Royal Holloway, University of London, described the situation as the most dramatic fall from grace for a royal in modern times.

The last recorded arrest of a senior British royal took place nearly 400 years ago during the reign of King Charles I. After Charles I attempted to detain lawmakers in the House of Commons in 1642, tensions escalated into the English Civil War.

Jeffrey Epstein appears in a photograph taken for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services’ sex offender registry, March 28, 2017. Photo: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services via Reuters.

Parliamentary forces led by Oliver Cromwell eventually prevailed. Charles I was later arrested, tried, convicted of high treason, and executed in 1649.

In 2019, the late Queen Elizabeth II removed Mountbatten-Windsor from royal duties and ended his charitable roles after he gave a widely criticized interview to the BBC defending his ties to Epstein.

Additional details about his relationship with Epstein appeared in a book published last year. King Charles III later stripped him of the right to use the title prince and ordered him to vacate his residence.

Last week, Buckingham Palace announced it would cooperate with any police inquiry related to Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein.

The announcement came after the U.S. Justice Department released documents showing the extent of correspondence between Epstein and Mountbatten-Windsor, including communication that continued after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges in New York. He died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial.

After Thursday’s arrest, King Charles III issued a statement saying the legal process must proceed without interference. He said it would not be appropriate to comment further while the investigation continues.

He added that he and his family would continue their duty and service to the public. The statement was signed Charles R., following royal tradition, with the letter R standing for rex, the Latin word for king.

It remains unclear how long Mountbatten-Windsor will be held. Policing commentator Danny Shaw told the BBC that suspects are usually detained between 12 and 24 hours before being charged or released pending further investigation.

The maximum period of detention is 96 hours, which would require extensions approved by senior officers and a Magistrate’s Court.

Shaw said Mountbatten-Windsor would be placed in a custody suite cell with only a bed and toilet while awaiting questioning. He said there would be no special treatment.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released

Mountbatten-Windsor was released from police custody on Thursday evening after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office tied to allegations that he sent confidential government documents to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A Reuters witness saw the former prince leave a police station in Aylsham in eastern England shortly after 1900 GMT. A small group of photographers and television crews were outside as he departed.

A photograph taken by Reuters after his release showed him sitting inside a car.

Thames Valley Police said later on Thursday that “the arrested man” had been “released under investigation.”

(With files from AP | Reuters)