LONDON — Police arrested the former prince Andrew on Thursday — his 66th birthday — after weeks of revelations over his friendship and dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The development, unprecedented in the modern era, follows years of scrutiny over Andrew's relationship with Epstein, heightened in recent weeks by the release of millions of Justice Department files related to the late, disgraced financier.
It comes after a remarkable fall from grace for the brother of King Charles III, now known only as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and will deal another blow to Britain's already beleaguered royal family. The king expressed his "deepest concern" at the news and stressed that "the law must take its course."
Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal titles last year, has always denied any wrongdoing in connection to his affiliation with Epstein.
Thames Valley Police said in a statement early Thursday it had arrested a man in his 60s on suspicion of misconduct in public office, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in the United Kingdom.
The police force, which covers an area in southern England where Mountbatten-Windsor used to live, did not name him, as is standard practice under British law. Asked whether Mountbatten-Windsor had been arrested, the police responded with the statement.
“We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time,” Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said. “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.”
Police said they were searching two addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. Andrew lived in Windsor's Royal Lodge in Berkshire until earlier this month; his new home on the Sandringham Estate, a royal residence, is in Norfolk.
Earlier, news photographers captured what appeared to be unmarked police cars arriving at Andrew's home in Sandringham.
Norfolk Police said in a statement that it was "supporting a Thames Valley Police investigation into misconduct in a public office."
Earlier this month, Thames Valley Police said it was looking into a claim that the former prince, while serving as U.K. trade envoy in 2010, had shared confidential documents with Epstein.
One email among the latest U.S. release appears to show Mountbatten-Windsor forwarding Epstein a report from his special adviser about the then-prince's visit to Southeast Asia.
Mountbatten-Windsor has not commented on the latest batch of files published by the DOJ.
It caps years of growing pressure on Andrew, the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, over his yearslong friendship with Epstein.
In his statement early Thursday, the king said:
“I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and 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.”
“In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”
The scandal surrounding Andrew has centered on the accusations of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein to his powerful friends, including Andrew.
Andrew stepped back from active royal duties in 2019 and in 2022 reached a legal settlement with Giuffre for an undisclosed amount after she filed a lawsuit in 2021 alleging that the former prince sexually abused her when she was 17.
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied having had sex with Giuffre.
On Thursday, the Giuffre family released a statement responding to Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest.
"Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty," it said, extending "our gratitude" to the police. "He was never a prince," it added. "For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you."
It is extremely rare for a senior member of the royal family — or someone who used to hold such status — to be arrested.
In 2002 Princess Anne, the sister of the king and Mountbatten-Windsor, was convicted under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her English bull terrier, Dotty, bit two children while walking in Windsor Great Park.
British media said at the time it was the first instance of a royal being convicted of a criminal offence, but she was not arrested.
“I can’t think of anything like this in modern times,” the royal historian and author Sarah Gristwood told NBC News. “It is the first age in which someone who was very recently a senior royal could be treated like any other common criminal.”
Plenty of senior figures were imprisoned in the times of royal families such as the Tudors and the Stewarts, who ruled between the 15th and 18th centuries, but only on political grounds, Gristwood said.
This is a developing news story. Please check back for updates.
