King Charles’ younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following claims that he shared confidential government documents with Jeffrey Epstein, according to media reports.
Earlier this month, Thames Valley Police said they were reviewing allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor had passed sensitive materials to the late convicted sex offender, based on documents released by U.S. authorities. In a statement on X, the force confirmed an investigation had been opened for misconduct in public office. “A man in his sixties from Norfolk has been arrested and remains in police custody. In line with national guidance, we are not naming the individual,” the statement read.
Reports said several unmarked police vehicles and plain-clothed officers arrived at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in eastern England, where Mountbatten-Windsor now lives. Thursday also marks his 66th birthday.
Thames Valley Police said they are conducting searches in Berkshire and Norfolk, home to Mountbatten-Windsor’s former residence, Royal Lodge, and his current home, Wood Farm, on the Sandringham estate.
The former prince, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, has consistently denied any wrongdoing and expressed regret over his friendship with Epstein, but has not commented following the latest document release. Buckingham Palace has not issued a statement.
Mountbatten-Windsor was reported to police by the anti-monarchy group Republic after more than three million pages of files concerning Epstein were made public. The documents suggested that in 2010 he may have shared reports on visits to countries including Vietnam and Singapore during official trips.
Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have confirmed ongoing discussions over the case. They noted that allegations of misconduct in public office, a Common Law offence not defined by statute, involve particular complexities.
Britain's King Charles III has issued a statement following news of his younger brother's arrest.
"I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation.
"Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.
"As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all."
Thames Valley Police issued the following statement:
"As part of the investigation, we have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
"The man remains in police custody at this time.
"We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance. Please also remember that this case is now active so care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court."
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.
“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.”
"Everybody is equal under the law"
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said:
"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. 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."
Prince Andrew: How Scandal Has Shaped the Former Royal’s Reputation
For most of his life, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was known as Prince Andrew. Widely reputed to be Queen Elizabeth's favourite son, he was once feted as a dashing young military officer who saw action in the 1982 Falklands War.
- In the 1980s and 1990s, British tabloid newspapers sometimes called him the "Playboy Prince" or even "Randy Andy" over his reported conquests.
- In the 2000s, he served as UK trade envoy under former prime minister Tony Blair but eventually had to resign from that role after a series of scandals over his expenses and relationships with controversial figures.
- His troubles deepened after Epstein's 2019 arrest, when new details of his links to the convicted sex offender came to light. He was accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager at properties owned by Epstein or his associates.
- He gave an interview to the BBC in which he hoped to clear his name, but it backfired for him as his convoluted justifications drew widespread ridicule and were deemed implausible. He was made to quit all official royal duties following the fiasco.
- In February 2022, he made an undisclosed payment to Giuffre to settle a U.S. lawsuit.
- As new troves of Epstein files released by the U.S. government revealed yet more embarrassing details about his links to the financier, King Charles removed Andrew's title of prince in October 2025.
- This month, he was forced to move out of his royal mansion within the Windsor estate and move into a more discreet home within his brother's Sandringham estate.
What to know about Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein was a well-connected and wealthy U.S. financier and convicted sex offender.
Known for socializing with politicians, celebrities and royalty, he once counted President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton as friends.
But the former hedge fund manager faced years of allegations that he sexually abused girls and young women. He first came under investigation in 2005.
In 2008, he pleaded guilty to Florida state charges of unlawfully paying a teenage girl for sex.
He was arrested on July 6, 2019 at a New Jersey airport after taking a private plane from Paris and pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking involving dozens of underage girls as young as 14, from at least 2002 to 2005.
Epstein was found dead on August 10, 2019 in a New York jail cell where he was being held without bail. He was 66. The cause of death was ruled as suicide by hanging.
Prosecutors said a search of his townhouse, conducted under a warrant, uncovered evidence of hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of nude photographs of “what appeared to be underage girls,” including some photos catalogued on compact discs and kept in a locked safe. The case was dismissed after his death.
One of the most high-profile people associated with Epstein was the then Prince Andrew who was forced to step aside from public duties in 2019 over his association with the financier. Andrew has always denied any accusations of wrongdoing.