The arrest was carried out by the Thames Valley Police on the morning Andrew turned 66 years old at his residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England, according to reports and images showing unmarked police vehicles and officers at the property’s entrance.
The investigation was launched following recent public access to millions of pages of documents related to the case of the deceased financier, Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sexual crimes the files, released by the US Department of Justice, included allegations that Andrew, while serving as the UK’s commercial representative in 2010, may have shared official reports and potentially confidential information with Epstein, accusations that the police are now “evaluating as part of a formal investigation process.”
The detention was officially announced as the arrest of “a 66-year-old man” on suspicion of “misconduct in public office” (improper behavior in the performance of public duties), a crime under British common law that is not defined by a specific statute but can carry severe penalties if proven.
The police also confirmed that searches are ongoing at several properties associated with the former prince in Berkshire and Norfolk, while Andrew remains in police custody.
The former prince served as the UK’s trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, during which time, according to the analyzed documents, he would have emailed details of official missions, including schedules in countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, and China, to the convicted Epstein shortly after receiving them from his advisors.
The arrest took place on Thursday morning using unmarked vehicles (Photo: Henry Nicholls / AFP)
Andrew repeatedly denied having committed any irregularity in the past regarding Epstein and the accusations weighing on his relationship with the businessman, and publicly expressed regret for the friendship they maintained. However, his involvement in the scandal ultimately resulted in 2025 in the stripping of royal titles and honors by King Charles, in an attempt to protect the institutional reputation of the monarchy.
This is the first case of a senior member of the British royal family being detained in modern times, a development that has already generated extensive international coverage and political reactions in the United Kingdom and beyond. Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to conducting the investigation independently and transparently, given the “significant public interest” in the process.
The case continues to develop, with more updates expected as the investigation proceeds and the police gather additional evidence.
