Prince Andrew arrested in UK over Epstein Files revelations
(February 19, 2026) Today, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a.k.a. the former Prince Andrew, was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest, which went down at his residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, followed revelations in the Epstein files that linked him to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. These documents, released by the U.S. Justice Department, suggest that the former prince, while serving as a British trade envoy, passed sensitive government reports to Epstein, including confidential investment opportunities in Afghanistan.
Below, see the full statement by the Thames Valley Police as released earlier today:
Thames Valley Police Open Investigation into Misconduct in Public Office
Thames Valley Police has opened an investigation into the offence of misconduct in public office. As part of the investigation, we have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
The man remains in police custody at this time. We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance. Please also remember that this case is now active so care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court.
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office. “It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence. We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”
Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest marks a dramatic development in the long-standing scrutiny over his ties to Epstein. In addition to the trade-related misconduct, the files include further allegations of sexual abuse tied to Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s more well-known victims, who claimed that she was trafficked to the prince at the age of 17. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied the accusations, including those made by Giuffre, but he reached a settlement with her in 2022, reportedly paying around $16 million.
King Charles III stripped his brother of his royal titles last year amid intense scrutiny over Andrew’s friendship with Epstein and accusations made by Giuffre that she was trafficked to engage in sex with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was underage.
“At last, today, our broken hearts have been lifted at 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 our sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, we extend our gratitude to the U.K.’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.”
The royal family’s response to Mountbatten-Windsor’s inclusion in the Epstein files have been largely supportive of the legal process. King Charles III expressed his full cooperation with the investigation, emphasizing that “the law must take its course.”
New disclosures: A tranche of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Jan. 30 included a number of emails that suggested Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor may have shared confidential documents when working as a British trade envoy. In one email, he appears to forward to Mr. Epstein official reports about visits he made as envoy to South Asia in 2010 that were sent to him by his assistant. ~ AP News
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are continuing to examine whether Mountbatten-Windsor misused his position to influence trade deals. This event has ignited renewed calls for accountability, both within the royal family and among other public figures implicated in Epstein’s circle.
For more on this breaking news, see the video accompanying this article.
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(Sources: Thames Valley Police, CBS News, AP News, New York Times)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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