Police in the United Kingdom have arrested former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of misconduct in public office following new disclosures about his past communications with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Thames Valley Police and other U.K. authorities confirmed that a man in his sixties was detained this week on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and multiple outlets identified him as the king's younger brother.
He was reportedly held for several hours while officers searched properties linked to him, including residences in Berkshire and Norfolk, before being released while inquiries continue. Police have said the investigation remains active and that no charges have yet been filed, according to ABC News.
The arrest follows the release of large batches of documents from U.S. investigations into Epstein, which appeared to show that Andrew shared or discussed sensitive trade or government-related information with Epstein while serving as a U.K. trade envoy around 2010.
Campaigners and anti-monarchy groups had recently urged police to act on the material, arguing that it pointed to potential abuse of public office. Prosecutors in Britain have been in contact with police as they assess whether the evidence justifies criminal charges.
Andrew has long acknowledged knowing Epstein but has denied any criminal wrongdoing, including in relation to Epstein's sexual abuse of underage girls. He previously settled a civil lawsuit in the United States brought by Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein accuser, without admitting liability, NBC News reported.
In the wake of the wider scandal, King Charles III moved to strip him of military roles and royal patronages, and last year the palace confirmed that he would no longer use the title of prince, instead being referred to as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The latest allegations center not on sexual offenses but on whether he improperly used his official position to benefit or inform Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Police have not released specifics of the documents under review or the exact content of the alleged communications. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the arrest, while Andrew's representatives have not issued any new public statement since the latest developments, as per the New York Times.
