King Charles' brother Andrew arrested by UK police amid alleged Epstein links

Ex-Prince Andrew Arrest: UK police has arrested King Charles' brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Thames Valley Police, which covers areas west of London including his former home, said it is reviewing reports that Prince Andrew sent trade-related documents to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010, according to agencies. This came after the release of millions of pages of documents gathered during a US investigation into Epstein.

BBC TV also reported that police had arrested King Charles' younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.


The police force did not name Mountbatten-Windsor, which is standard practice under UK law.

However, when asked whether he had been arrested, the force referred to a statement saying that a man in his sixties had been arrested, AP reported.

“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,’’ the statement said. “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,” the statement added.

"Thames Valley Police have opened an investigation into an offence of misconduct in public office," the force said in a statement on X.

"A man in his sixties from Norfolk has been arrested and remains in police custody. As per national guidance we will not name the arrested man."

Earlier reports said that six unmarked police cars and about eight plain-clothes officers arrived at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in eastern England, where Mountbatten-Windsor, who turns 66 on Thursday, now lives.

The former prince, who is the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, has always said he did nothing wrong in connection with Epstein. He has also said he regrets knowing him. Since the latest documents were released, he has not answered requests for comment.

Buckingham Palace has not made any immediate statement.

Earlier, when asked about the claims linked to Andrew’s time as a trade envoy in the government’s Department of Business more than ten years ago, Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the BBC that no one is above the law.

"Anybody who has any information should testify. So, whether it's Andrew or anybody else, anybody who has got relevant information should come forward to whatever the relevant body is, in this particular case, we're talking about Epstein, but there are plenty of other cases," said Starmer.

"Anybody who has got information relating to any aspect of violence against women and girls has, in my view, a duty to come forward, whoever they are."

"One of the core principles in our system is that everybody is equal under the law, and nobody is above the law, and it is really important that is applied across the board. "That is the principle. It's a long-standing principle, it's a very important principle of our country, our society, and it applies, and it has to apply in this case, in the same way as it would apply in any other case," he said.

The arrest comes after a number of serious allegations in recent weeks, following the release of the Epstein files by the US Congress. Earlier this month, Buckingham Palace took the unusual step of saying it “stands ready” to support a police investigation into the conduct of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

"The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor's conduct," the Palace said at the time.

The office of Prince William and Kate Middleton also had to issue a statement on behalf of the Prince and Princess of Wales, as pressure on the royal family grew.

After more than three million pages of documents linked to Epstein were released, the anti-monarchy group Republic reported Mountbatten-Windsor to the police. Epstein was convicted in 2008 of seeking prostitution from a minor.

The documents suggest that in 2010 Mountbatten-Windsor sent Epstein reports about Vietnam, Singapore and other places he visited on official trips.

Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have earlier said they were in talks about the case. Police said that misconduct in public office is a common law offence, meaning it is not set out in written legislation, and that such cases can involve “particular complexities”.

(with inputs from agencies)