Former Prince Andrew jailed over allegations of misconduct in public office revealed in Epstein files

London – Former Prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on Thursday accused of misconduct in public office after the revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein files. The younger brother of King Charles III was arrested on his 66th birthday, almost two weeks after an anti-royalty group asked police to investigate documents that showed Andrew had shared secret government information with the late American spy when the royal acted as Britain’s trade ambassador.

Thames Valley Police confirmed last week that it was investigating claims against Mountbatten-Windsor that it appeared on the recent release of the Epstein files by the US Department of Justice to determine whether an official investigation was warranted.

In a statement on Thursday, Thames Valley Police confirmed that, “as part of the investigation, we have today (19/2) arrested a sixty-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and are conducting searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.” It said the suspect, whose name was not released in accordance with police procedures, “is currently in police custody.”

Just after 8 am (3 am Eastern), six unmarked police cars were seen arriving at Wood Farm, Andrew’s new residence in the area of ​​King Charles’ Sandringham in Norfolk, eastern England. The Reuters news agency said later that police were seen again on Thursday at the Royal Lodge, where Mountbatten-Windsor lived in the royal family’s estate in Windsor near London.

If Andrew is eventually charged with misconduct in public office, the charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison in Britain.

“This is the king’s brother who has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office – the first royal official to be arrested,” Roya Nikkhah, royal editor of Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper, told CBS Mornings, stressing that it was “quite a moment” in history.

King Charles says “the law must take its place”

King Charlesin a statement released on Thursday, he said he had “read very deeply the stories about Andrew
Mountbatten-Windsor and allegations of misconduct in public office.”

“What follows now is a complete, fair and appropriate process in which this matter is investigated properly and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation. Let me put it clearly: the law must take its place,” said the king, adding that he would not comment further during the investigation of his brother, and that our family will continue ”
service to you all.”

In an interview last Thursday with the partner network of CBS News, BBC News, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “no one is above the law” when asked about Mountbatten-Windsor.

“I think that is a matter for the police, they will do their own investigation, but one of the core principles in our program is that everyone is equal under the law and no one is above the law,” said Starmer.

Last week, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on behalf of the king that the royal family will cooperate if the police come to ask questions about Mountbatten-Windsor.

“The King has made clear, in words and actions that have never been seen before, his deep concern about the allegations that continue to emerge about Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” a Buckingham Palace spokesman said in a statement. “While the allegations in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to answer, if contacted by Thames Valley Police we are as ready to support you as you would expect.”

CBS News has sought comment from Mountbatten-Windsor’s representatives several times since the Epstein files first revealed her close relationship with Epstein. He didn’t answer, but in the past he kept denying that anything was wrong.

Virginia Giuffre’s family reacts to Andrew’s arrest

King Charles stripped his brother of his royal titles last year amid intense scrutiny over Andrew’s friendship with Epstein and allegations made by the American. Virginia Giuffre that she was trafficked for sex with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was young.

Mountbatten-Windsor denied those allegations, but reached a agreement with Giuffre in 2022paying him around $16 million, according to British media reports. Giuffre died by suicide last year.

“Finally, today, our sad hearts have been lifted with the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty,” Giuffre’s siblings said in a statement shared with CBS News on Thursday. “On behalf of my sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, we extend our gratitude to the UK’s Thames Valley Police for their investigation, and the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you.”

Mountbatten-Windsor previously suggested that an undisclosed photo showing her with Giuffre and Epstein’s close associate Ghislaine Maxwell may have been faked, too. Maxwell said the same in a prison interview in early 2023, but among the documents released by the US government this year was a draft email that appeared to show Maxwell confirming its authenticity.

In the message, sent by “G Maxwell” to Epstein in 2015, he wrote: “In 2001 I was in London when [name redacted] I met a number of my friends including Prince Andrew. The picture was taken as I think he wanted to show it to friends and family.”

Giuffre claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew in Florida at the age of 17, after being trafficked to meet Maxwell.

What’s in the Epstein files on Andrew?

While previous allegations about Andrew’s actions in the Epstein files focused on the ex-king’s encounters with young women in association with Epstein, the anti-monarchy group the Republic called earlier this month for a formal investigation into his actions as a British trade official.

Emails among millions of documents issued by the US Department of Justice on Jan. 30 it seems that the former prince passed on secret reports about his visits as the official British trade envoy to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam, including details of investment opportunities.

Another series of emails shows that after visiting Asia, on November 30, 2010, Mountbatten-Windsor sent official reports on his visit, sent to him by his then special counsel Amit Patel, to Epstein, minutes after receiving them. None of the messages from the then prince to Epstein correspond to the message that was transmitted.

Another email exchange between the men the following month appears to show Mountbatten-Windsor sharing files he described as “top secret” about potential investment opportunities in southern Afghanistan, where British forces were based at the time.

Then Prince Andrew said he shared the documents with Epstein to seek “comments, ideas or opinions on who I can best show this to attract” to the opportunities described in brief.

The allegations coincide with similar revelations from the latest section of the Epstein files suggesting that former British Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson shared classified government information with the late American financier. London Metropolitan Police confirm the investigation in his actions earlier this month.

Starmer’s decision to tap Mandelson for an important diplomatic post delivered great pressure on the UK leader to resignalthough they follow i the resignation of his chief of staffStarmer appeared likely to hold on to his job, at least for now.