Top analyst says Prince Andrew's arrest could force King Charles to consider stepping aside

The arrest of former British Prince Andrew, known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has sent shockwaves through the United Kingdom and reignited scrutiny around the British monarchy.

Taken into custody on February 19, his 66th birthday, the former royal was arrested amid continued fallout linked to his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Following several hours of detention, British police on Thursday night, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was "released under investigation," as per a report by The New York Times.


Now, questions are being raised not just about his legal future, but about the potential impact on the reign of his brother, King Charles III, as per a report by The Mirror.

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What led to Prince Andrew’s arrest?

Authorities arrested Andrew in the United Kingdom while also conducting property searches. He was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office following the release of Epstein-related files in the United States.

The controversy surrounding Andrew’s relationship with Epstein dates back to 2019, when Epstein was arrested and later died by suicide in prison. Andrew faced intense criticism after a widely condemned television interview in which he denied allegations made by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre and offered explanations about his association with Epstein.

Public backlash was swift. Within days of the interview, his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, removed him from public duties and stripped him of charitable patronages. In 2022, months before settling a civil lawsuit in the United States, he lost his military titles and stopped using “His Royal Highness.”

In November 2025, Charles formally removed Andrew’s remaining titles, including Prince and His Royal Highness, and evicted him from The Royal Lodge. He had since been living at the Sandringham estate, where he was arrested, as per a report by The Mirror.

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How could this affect King Charles?

While King Charles has previously distanced the monarchy from his brother, the latest development has intensified scrutiny of his leadership. Speaking on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown, royal commentator Sally Bedell-Smith suggested the investigation could have far-reaching implications.

“I think this is a very focused investigation at the moment. It is focused on his allegedly passing confidential information to Jeffrey Epstein, which is, in fact, a crime, and it carries a heavy sentence,” Bedell-Smith said.

“So he’s being questioned. Whether they will prosecute him, whether he will end up in jail, it will be an astonishing development and it would definitely have an impact on the Royal Family, certainly his older brother."

Bedell-Smith noted that King Charles had likely done what he could over the years without fully understanding the scope of the allegations. She suggested he may need to take additional steps to steady public confidence.

“I think one thing he might have to do right now is give a national address, I think the Queen has done this a few times, and I’m not sure if it’s premature to do that if you don’t know what the evidence is, but I think that could maybe calm people down,” she said, as per a report by The Mirror.

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Could Prince William step in?

The commentator went further, raising the possibility of constitutional mechanisms if the crisis deepens.

“It may just so cast a shadow over his reign, I mean there are mechanisms, like a regency, where he could step aside basically, and William could become the Prince Regent,” she said.

According to Bedell-Smith, Prince William has long maintained distance from his uncle and played a firm role behind the scenes.

Prince William has been completely clear, he doesn’t like his Uncle, he hasn’t had much to do with him, and I think he has been very tough behind the scene in pushing his father to do something,” she stated. “And Charles made a very strong statement saying he supported the investigation, no one’s above the law. William said something very similar.”

The unfolding saga also touches Andrew’s former wife, Sarah Ferguson, who ceased using the Duchess of York title in 2025 amid separate controversies tied to Epstein, as per a report by The Mirror.

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Now that legal proceedings are underway and the monarchy is the focus of international attention, it is unclear if Andrew will be the only person affected by the scandal or if it will spread to threaten the institution as a whole.


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The Royal Family is once again in the public eye due to Prince Andrew's legal issues. Even though King Charles has previously taken strong action to separate the monarchy from his brother, the most recent events bring up challenging issues regarding responsibility, leadership, and the future of the throne.

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FAQs

Why was Prince Andrew arrested?
He was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office following renewed scrutiny linked to the release of Epstein-related files in the United States.

Could King Charles step aside?
A royal commentator suggested that if the scandal deepens, constitutional mechanisms such as a regency could allow Prince William to take on a more authoritative role.