King Charles says 'law must take its course' after his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest

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King Charles released a statement this morning following the arrest of his brother on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

"What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities," he said. 

"In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation."

King Charles added: "Let me state clearly: the law must take its course."

Wang says the Royal Family’s ongoing efforts to manage reputational fallout from former prince Andrew’s relationship to Epstein will likely ramp up following his arrest, and especially as King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to host Nigeria's president for a historic state visit at Windsor Castle next month.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is no longer a working royal, after having been stripped of all his titles, including prince, but he is still a member of the family. 

His arrest by British police today on suspicion of misconduct in public office will have been a shock, particularly on his 66th birthday. 

Police are searching the property he recently moved into on the King's private estate, Sandringham.

Andrew is currently in police custody at an undisclosed location, he has not been charged with any offence and has always denied any wrongdoing.

From 2011 and until late 2025, the questions surrounding Andrew's relationship with Epstein focused on women and teenagers who may have been victimized.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, between civil litigation and in a posthumous 2025 memoir, alleged  having sexual encounters with Andrew on three occasions, including once when she may have been just under 18 years of age. 

In the 2019 BBC interview, Andrew denied knowing Giuffre, but in early 2022 settled a lawsuit she filed, reportedly for a multimillion-dollar figure. 

Around that time, Queen Elizabeth stripped him of a number of royal patronages and military affiliations. 

The revival of Epstein questions last year led to more disgrace for Andrew, with King Charles stripping him of all remaining titles last October, leading to Andrew's eventual move from his royal residence. Buckingham Palace said he would be referred to as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and not as a prince.

Royal commentator and lawyer Edward Wang called the arrest of the former royal — who turns 66 today — "unprecedented."

"It just brings so much disrepute to the Royal Family. You can be much assured that crisis mode is currently happening at Buckingham Palace and the royal household is looking at what they can do to contain this."

In a now-infamous interview with BBC in 2019, not long after Epstein's death, Andrew said that they first met in 1999, though at least one biography of the former prince thinks the relationship predates that year.

Andrew said they were introduced by Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and sometimes girlfriend of Epstein, who was convicted in 2022 of sex trafficking and other related charges herself. He said his relationship with Epstein ended in late 2010 — they were photographed in New York's Central Park then.

But the story became an ongoing crisis for the Royal Family beginning in February 2011 when British tabloids shone a light on Andrew's relationship with the American, who had been convicted in Florida in 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution.

The release has caused a significant impact in Britain, with questions over how Andrew and former Labour Party politician Peter Mandelson, recently Britain's ambassador to the U.S., handled sensitive government information. 

The documents appear to show that Andrew forwarded Epstein reports about Vietnam, Singapore and other places, which he had been sent in relation to an official trip. More recent reports in the British press don't involve Epstein at all, but question whether Andrew shared British Treasury information with a banking executive. 

Here’s the full statement from Thames Valley Police:

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 Const. 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.”

Here's some clarity, including why Andrew was not named by police, from The Associated Press: The Thames Valley Police, an agency that covers areas west of London, including Mountbatten-Windsor's former home, said earlier this month it was "assessing" reports that the former prince sent trade reports to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.

The police force did not name Mountbatten-Windsor, as is normal under U.K. Law. But when asked if he had been arrested, the force pointed to a statement saying that they had arrested a man in his sixties.

Thames Valley police said on Thursday a ‌man in his sixties ​had been arrested ​on suspicion of misconduct in ​public office, adding ⁠that ⁠they ‌would not be naming the man "as per ⁠national guidance."

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