LONDON – In a major moment for the United Kingdom, King Charles’s brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, once known as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was arrested on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Police detained him on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The arrest happened on his 66th birthday. It is also the first time in almost 400 years that police have taken a senior British royal into custody.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the detention early Thursday at the King’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has lived there since his recent removal from the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Officers held him for several hours at Aylsham Police Station. Later that evening, they released him “under investigation,” which means police have not filed charges, but the case remains active.
Police action followed a long-running inquiry into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s connections to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. In recent weeks, unsealed Epstein-related files and renewed complaints brought the issue back into focus.
Investigators are looking at claims that include:
- Sharing confidential government papers and briefings with Epstein while serving as the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment (2001 to 2011).
- Sending sensitive reports from trade trips, including a confidential briefing on investment openings in Afghanistan.
- Passing Treasury documents to private business contacts linked to Epstein.
Police described the suspected offense as misconduct in public office, a serious allegation that can carry tough penalties, including possible prison time. Officers also searched properties in Berkshire and Norfolk as part of the operation.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied wrongdoing connected to Epstein. He stepped away from public royal work in 2019 after a widely criticized BBC interview about his Epstein ties. In 2022, he settled a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre.
This criminal investigation marks a sharp shift from earlier civil disputes. It also shows how new material has kept the scandal in the headlines years after Epstein died in 2019.
Buckingham Palace Response to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Arrest
Buckingham Palace broke from its usual approach and issued a public statement, a step many see as a sign of how serious the situation is. King Charles III, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s older brother, said he was deeply concerned while stressing that the legal process must stay independent.
In his statement, the King said: “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. The law must take its course.”
Beyond that, the Palace offered no further details. It has stuck to its long-held practice of not stepping into ongoing investigations. Still, people close to the royal household say the King views this as separate from royal duties.
Even so, the arrest has fueled more talk about Mountbatten-Windsor’s reduced role and the steps already taken against him, including the removal of military titles and the HRH style in 2022.
Public Reaction and Social Media Split
Online reaction moved fast and split sharply. Royal supporters and critics flooded social media and forums with competing takes.
- Some loyal supporters called it unfair, writing things like “This is a witch hunt against the royals” and “Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has suffered enough, leave him alone.”
- Others welcomed the news, posting “Justice finally catching up” and “The monarchy can’t protect him forever.”
- Hashtags also reflected the divide, with #StandWithAndrew on one side and #AbolishTheMonarchy on the other.
As the news spread, petitions calling for transparency picked up steam. Meanwhile, people gathered outside Sandringham Estate. Photographers captured Mountbatten-Windsor returning after his release. Some held signs of support, while others protested and demanded accountability.
The split mirrors a wider tension in Britain between traditional monarchists and those who question the institution’s place today.
What This Means for the British Monarchy
This arrest creates one of the biggest tests for the monarchy in years. Mountbatten-Windsor remains eighth in line to the throne. Although his public position has shrunk, he is still part of the House of Windsor.
Possible effects include:
- More damage to public trust, which has already taken hits from recent royal controversies.
- Closer attention to royal finances, personal ties, and how accountability works around the institution.
- Added pressure on King Charles to separate the monarchy from individual scandals.
- Fresh energy for republican groups pushing to limit royal influence or end the monarchy.
At the same time, the story has revived older political remarks. A resurfaced 2005 video shows Keir Starmer, then a human rights lawyer and now Prime Minister, speaking about his earlier views on the monarchy.
Commenting on his appointment as Queen’s Counsel, Starmer said: “I got made a Queen’s Counsel, which is odd since I often used to propose the abolition of the monarchy.” Although Starmer has since voiced support for the institution, the clip is circulating again and adding fuel to the current debate.
What Happens Next
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor remains under investigation. Police are consulting the Crown Prosecution Service, and no timeline has been shared for charges or a decision to close the case.
For many, this moment highlights how exposed the monarchy can be when legal scrutiny increases and more records become public. As the investigation continues, the country is left weighing the same issues again: accountability, privilege, and what the royal family should represent now.
This story remains fast-moving, and more updates are expected as police work continues.
