British police have arrested former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over alleged misconduct during his time in public office, amid renewed scrutiny of his ties to convicted harasser Jeffrey Epstein.
Authorities confirmed Thursday that a man in his seventies had been detained on suspicion of offenses committed while holding public office. In line with British legal guidelines, police declined to identify the suspect by name.
British media reported that six unmarked police vehicles and approximately eight plainclothes officers arrived at Farm Wood in Sandringham, eastern England, where the arrest was carried out.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the former UK prince and younger brother of King Charles, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office as police investigate claims he shared confidential material with convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein. pic.twitter.com/3jABqwVAYI
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 19, 2026
Investigation Linked to Newly Released US Files
Thames Valley Police announced earlier this month that they had opened an investigation into allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor leaked confidential government documents to Epstein—claims reportedly supported by files recently released by the US government.
Mountbatten-Windsor, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with his relationship with Epstein. While expressing regret over their association, he has not responded to requests for comment following the publication of the latest documents.
The BBC previously reported that Andrew had left his residence at Windsor Castle for another royal property in eastern England as scrutiny over his Epstein ties intensified.
Royal Titles Stripped in Unprecedented Move
In late October, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III had stripped his brother of all royal titles, including the title of “Prince,” and ordered him to vacate his residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor—an unprecedented step within the British royal family.
A palace statement said the 65-year-old would henceforth be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Earlier that month, he had relinquished the title “Duke of York.”
The decision followed mounting pressure on the monarchy to distance itself from Andrew over his association with Epstein, who was found dead in a US jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.