British police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III and former prince, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, authorities and multiple news outlets reported on Thursday.
Thames Valley Police confirmed that officers detained the 66-year-old at his residence on the Sandringham estate in eastern England, where plain-clothes detectives and unmarked vehicles were seen early on February 19, 2026. The arrest comes amid an ongoing investigation into allegations linked to Mountbatten-Windsor’s past activities and his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Police say the misconduct inquiry focuses on whether the former royal improperly shared confidential government information during his tenure as a UK trade envoy. The probe was launched after recently released documents and files, including material from the US government’s Epstein files, raised questions about his conduct and associations.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who has long denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and expressed regret over their friendship, was taken into custody and remains under investigation. The specific allegations have not been formally charged, and police have not commented further beyond confirming the arrest.
The arrest has reignited intense public and political scrutiny in the UK, where the former royal has been a controversial figure since the Epstein scandal first brought widespread criticism. Security forces are understood to be conducting searches at properties in Berkshire and Norfolk as part of their work.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed a widely shared sentiment among political leaders that “nobody is above the law” amid the unfolding investigation, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are treating the allegations.
The development marks a dramatic moment in a long-running saga involving the former royal, whose ties to Epstein have drawn legal and media attention for years, and whose public roles and honours had previously been scaled back. The situation remains fluid, with further updates expected as the investigation progresses.