Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York and brother to King Charles III, was arrested at his residence on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The arrest this morning, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, comes as fresh documents from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continue to unravel the ex-royal’s tangled web of associations, raising questions about accountability within Britain’s elite circles.
Misconduct in public office is committed when a public officer, acting in their official role, deliberately neglects their duty or deliberately does something they know is wrong (or are reckless about), in a way that seriously abuses the public’s trust in the office, and without reasonable excuse or justification.
The offence is reserved for serious, culpable abuses of official position and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the detention of a man in his 60s from Norfolk, with searches underway at properties in both Norfolk and Berkshire, the latter likely referring to Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Officers arrived at Wood Farm shortly after 8am, with images showing at least six unmarked police vehicles and plain-clothed personnel at the scene.
The arrest happened on the 66th birthday of the former royal.
The probe stems from unsealed Epstein files, which allege that Mountbatten-Windsor leaked sensitive trade envoy documents to the late financier during his tenure as a UK special representative for international trade.
On top of this there are also files indicating that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in custody in 2019, had close ties to Mountbatten-Windsor, including multiple visits to royal residences.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who denies all wrongdoing, has not been charged and is presumed innocent until his guilt is proven in court.
Critics argue this arrest happened years after initial allegations surfaced and exposes systemic delays in holding powerful individuals to account, particularly when linked to transatlantic scandals involving US and UK intelligence.
This development follows Mountbatten-Windsor’s 2022 out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein victim who accused him of sexual assault. He has denied these claims.
Stripped of his royal titles and military affiliations, he has lived in relative seclusion but the Epstein files have reignited scrutiny. Buckingham Palace has distanced itself, stating the matter is for the police.
In reaction to the arrest, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said no individual stands above the law, which must be applied consistently, regardless of who is involved.
Starmer also called for people with relevant information to contact the appropriate authorities.
“Anybody who has any information should testify. So, whether it’s Andrew or anybody else, anybody whose got relevant information should come forward to whatever the relevant body is,” Starmer said.
