politics

февраль 19, 2026

Live updates: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested in connection with Epstein files revelations

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, younger brother of King Charles III, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, police said. The alleged misconduct likely relates to the former prince’s time as UK trade envoy until his resignation in 2011.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct, police say

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• Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, younger brother of King Charles III, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, police said. The alleged misconduct likely relates to the former prince’s time as UK trade envoy until his resignation in 2011.

• Officers were pictured arriving at Mountbatten-Windsor’s home at Sandringham, King Charles’s estate in Norfolk, early Thursday. Police said they were searching addresses in Norfolk and Berkshire, where the former prince lived until he left his home at Windsor this month.

• Police had previously said the force was reviewing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor, and claims he shared sensitive information with the convicted sex offender while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.

• Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all accusations against him and insisted that he never witnessed or suspected any of the behavior of which Epstein was accused. He has not commented on recent allegations of misconduct in public office.

The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor comes shortly after Buckingham Palace said it would “stand ready to support” police if approached about the claims made against the former prince.

Last week, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said King Charles had “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.”

“While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect,” the palace spokesperson said on February 9.

Also last week, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said the Prince and Princess of Wales have been “deeply concerned” by the trove of new documents, without naming Mountbatten-Windsor directly.

“Their thoughts remain focused on the victims,” the Kensington Palace spokesperson said.

Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied any wrongdoing over his ties to Epstein. He had not publicly responded to the allegations related to his former role as UK trade envoy. CNN has contacted him for comment.

Today, February 19, is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s 66th birthday.

Police arrested Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Thames Valley Police said Thursday. Officers arrived at Mountbatten-Windsor’s home in Sandringham, north of London, according to UK media reports.

Police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Thames Valley Police said Thursday.

In England, misconduct in public office is a common law offense that concerns “serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held,” according to the Crown Prosecution Service, which is the body that prosecutes criminal cases investigated by police in England and Wales.

“There must be a direct link between the misconduct and an abuse of those powers or responsibilities,” according to the prosecution service guidance.

In this legal context, “wilful” abuse or neglect means “deliberately doing something which is wrong knowing it to be wrong or with reckless indifference as to whether it is wrong or not.”

The offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. It can be tried only on indictment.

The allegations of misconduct in public office likely relate to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as UK trade envoy.

The former prince became trade envoy in 2001, but stepped down a decade later after coming under fire over his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor said at the time that his position was “no longer necessary to the work that I do today and, more importantly, in the future.”

Documents released by the US Department of Justice showed that Mountbatten-Windsor was in contact with Epstein during his time as trade envoy.

Trade envoys, as set out in UK government guidelines, are under the same obligations as government ministers and the role “carries with it a duty of confidentiality in relation to information received,” which may include “sensitive, commercial, or political information shared about relevant markets/visits.”

The guidelines state that the “duty of confidentiality will continue to apply” after the envoy leaves their post.

Mountbatten-Windsor has vehemently denied any and all wrongdoing in his dealings with Epstein.

Norfolk Constabulary told CNN that it is supporting the Thames Valley Police investigation into misconduct in public office.

The Sandringham estate, where Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested, falls in the Norfolk Constabulary area.

At least seven British police forces had said they were looking into or assisting with inquiries following the disclosures within the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice.

These are London’s Metropolitan Police, Thames Valley Police, Norfolk Constabulary, Essex Police, Bedfordshire Police, West Midlands Police and Wiltshire Police.

King Charles III stripped Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, his younger brother, of his title as prince in October, during the fallout from an earlier trove of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice.

Charles also began the process of evicting Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal estate at Windsor, which had been the former prince’s home since 2003.

CNN reported earlier this month that Mountbatten-Windsor had moved out of Windsor and was now a resident of Norfolk, in eastern England. The move had been expected to occur after the holiday season.

Royal sources told CNN last year that Mountbatten-Windsor would be given a house on the King’s private estate in Sandringham and will also receive an income from Charles.

At 10.03 a.m. local time (5.03 ET), 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.”*

Police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Thames Valley Police said Thursday.

Police arrived at Mountbatten-Windsor’s home in Sandringham, north of London, according to UK media reports.

Thames Valley Police previously said the force is reviewing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor, and claims he shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.

Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all accusations against him and insisted that he never witnessed or suspected any of the behavior of which Epstein was accused. He has not commented on recent allegations of misconduct in public office.