In an unprecedented turn of events for the British Monarchy, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was pictured leaving police custody on Thursday evening, appearing visibly shaken and "ashen-faced." The 66-year-old former prince had been detained for several hours at the Aylsham police station in Norfolk following a dramatic 8:00 AM raid on his residence at Wood Farm, situated on the Sandringham Estate. Witnesses described him as looking "shellshocked" and "cowering" in the back of a vehicle as he was driven away shortly after 7:00 PM.
The arrest, executed by Thames Valley Police on Andrew's 66th birthday, marks the first time a senior member of the Royal Family has been taken into custody in modern history. The investigation centers on allegations of "misconduct in public office," specifically focusing on claims that he shared confidential government trade reports with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a UK trade envoy in 2010. These allegations surfaced following the recent release of millions of pages of US Justice Department documents known as the "Epstein Files."
King Charles III broke tradition by issuing a swift and direct statement, expressing "deepest concern" while emphasizing that "the law must take its course." This move signals a significant distancing of the Crown from Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles and HRH style late last year. Buckingham Palace confirmed they were not informed of the arrest in advance but offered full cooperation to the authorities, reinforcing the government’s stance that "no one is above the law."
As the investigation continues, police have also conducted searches at Royal Lodge in Windsor, Andrew's former long-term home. Although he has been released "under investigation"—meaning he has not been charged but remains a key subject of the inquiry—the legal stakes are exceptionally high. In the UK, a conviction for misconduct in public office can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. For now, the former prince remains at Sandringham under intense public and legal scrutiny.