Prince Andrew Arrested, Released Under Investigation Amid Epstein Ties
Former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was subsequently released under investigation, Thames Valley Police confirmed.
King Charles’ Response
King Charles III responded to the arrest with “deepest concern,” stating his support for a “full, fair and proper process” regarding the investigation. He emphasized that “the law must take its course” and affirmed his family’s co-operation with authorities. Buckingham Palace shared a statement from Charles, noting that he would not comment further while the investigation is ongoing [TIME].
Details of the Arrest and Investigation
Thames Valley Police arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk and conducted searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. While the police force did not name the arrested individual, it was widely reported to be Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor [New York Times]. Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright stated the investigation is in response to an allegation of misconduct in public office and acknowledged the public interest in the case [TIME].
Background: Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein
The arrest is the latest development in the ongoing scrutiny of Prince Andrew’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew was stripped of his honors, styles and royal titles, including his peerage as Duke of York, in October 2025 due to the controversy [Wikipedia]. Prior to this, a controversial interview with the BBC’s Newsnight in November 2019 drew significant criticism [Wikipedia]. He had also withdrawn from public roles in May 2020 [Wikipedia].
Previous Scrutiny
Concerns regarding Prince Andrew’s relationship with Epstein date back to at least 2011, when the BBC reported criticism over the friendship and calls for him to step down from his role as a trade envoy [Wikipedia]. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, also disclosed that he had assisted in arranging for Epstein to pay off her debts [Wikipedia].
Representatives for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have been contacted for comment.