Former Prince Andrew has been released by British police after 12 hours in custody following his arrest in Sandringham this morning.
The British media reported it. The brother of King Charles III, as far as we know, remains under investigation on charges of having shared confidential information with the pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein in his former role as a commercial emissary of the London government.
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, which occurred in the early hours of the day on charges of alleged “misconduct in the exercise of a public office” in relation to the Epstein scandal, represents a heavy blow to the British monarchy. It is no coincidence that the sovereign immediately came forward asking that “justice must take its course”.
The former Duke of York, who turns 66 today, was stopped by Thames Valley Police after months of controversy over his links with the US financier convicted of sexual offences. According to investigators, Andrea would have handed over sensitive British government documents to Epstein when he held the role of special representative for international trade between 2001 and 2011. The police had already announced in recent days that they were evaluating the information that had emerged to determine whether to open a criminal investigation. The former prince was arrested at his residence on the royal estate of Sandringham, Norfolk.
Law enforcement carried out searches of properties located in the counties of Norfolk and Berkshire, where Sandringham and Windsor are located respectively, the area where Andrea lived until a few weeks ago. The police have defined the case as “active” and urged caution to avoid the risk of contempt of court. At the same time, several British police forces are analyzing the movements of Epstein’s private plane at airports in the United Kingdom to check whether it was used to transport minors. The late Virginia Giuffre had claimed she was brought to the country by Epstein when she was a minor and forced to have sexual relations with the former prince, allegations Andrew always denied.
King Charles III expressed “deep concern” over his brother’s arrest, underlining however that “justice must take its course” and that the investigation must be carried out in a complete and impartial manner. The sovereign assured the royal family’s full cooperation with the authorities, declining further comment while the trial is ongoing. Despite the seriousness of the affair, Charles III continued his official commitments by participating in the inauguration of London Fashion Week.
Crown Prince William and Princess Kate have kept a low profile, limiting themselves to expressing support for the king’s position. The arrest comes after the monarch had already stripped his brother of his titles and removed him from the Windsor residence, where he lived, following the revelations about the Epstein case. Today Andrea is known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and is excluded from public life.
New documents that have emerged in recent weeks suggest that Andrea passed classified information to Epstein, including a confidential report on investment opportunities in Afghanistan and accounts of official travel to China, Singapore and Vietnam. The prosecutor’s office confirmed that it was in contact with the police regarding the possibility of a crime. Misconduct in the performance of a public office can carry a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment under UK law. The arrest of the former prince represents an unprecedented event in the recent history of the royal family.
Virginia Giuffre’s family welcomed the news, saying “no one is above the law”. Some British citizens expressed satisfaction with the justice’s action, while others expressed solidarity with the king, who is already struggling with health problems. The investigation also indirectly involves other public figures: the prosecutor’s office is in contact with the London police as part of an investigation into Peter Mandelson, former British ambassador to Washington, suspected of having in turn transmitted confidential documents to Epstein.