Police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at his temporary residence on the Sandringham estate today on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to Thames Valley Police. The arrest took place on his 66th birthday, with six unmarked cars and eight officers in plain clothes seen entering Wood Farm around 8 am.
This development coincides with the National Crime Agency (NCA) providing support to UK police forces investigating information found in the Epstein files. The NCA stated that it is assisting the police in conducting a thorough and independent assessment of the released information. Thames Valley Police confirmed the arrest of a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and mentioned ongoing searches at locations in Berkshire and Norfolk.
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright announced the initiation of an investigation into the misconduct allegation following a comprehensive assessment. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the investigation’s integrity and objectivity while collaborating with partners and acknowledged the high public interest in the case.
The pressure on the former prince has intensified following the release of three million pages of previously undisclosed emails, documents, and images from the Epstein Files in the U.S. Thames Valley Police is reviewing allegations concerning human trafficking and improper sharing of information by Andrew during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy.
Email exchanges between Andrew and Epstein, along with incriminating images, have surfaced, prompting Surrey Police to urge individuals with relevant information to come forward about human trafficking and sexual assault claims dating back to 1994. The released emails also suggest that Andrew shared official visit reports with the convicted financier while serving as a trade envoy.
Thames Valley Police disclosed discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service regarding the allegations of Andrew sharing confidential reports. Despite vehemently denying any misconduct, Andrew was stripped of his titles by Charles last year following accusations made by Virginia Giuffre in a posthumously published book. Andrew settled a civil sexual assault claim with Giuffre in 2022, whom he claims never to have met.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of upholding the law for everyone, including Andrew, in light of the recent allegations. He urged individuals with relevant information to come forward and emphasized the principle of equality under the law, stating that it must be upheld universally.