The former Duke of York was taken into police custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office — on the very morning he turned 66.

On the morning of 19 February 2026, unmarked police vehicles pulled up outside Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Plain-clothed officers moved quietly around the property. Inside was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — the man once known as Prince Andrew, Duke of York — celebrating his 66th birthday. By the time the day was underway, he was in custody.
Thames Valley Police confirmed in an official statement that they had arrested “a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” adding that searches were being carried out at addresses in both Berkshire and Norfolk. Though the force stated it would not formally name the arrested individual in line with national guidance, the circumstances left little ambiguity.
The Allegations Behind the Arrest
The arrest did not come out of nowhere. For months, Thames Valley Police had been reviewing serious allegations tied to Mountbatten-Windsor’s relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein — the American financier and convicted sex offender who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Among the allegations under investigation: that Mountbatten-Windsor had knowingly shared sensitive, confidential information with Epstein while serving as the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment between 2010 and 2011. Emails released as part of a massive US Department of Justice document dump in early 2026 — spanning three million files — appeared to support these claims. In one email dated November 2010, Andrew reportedly forwarded a confidential briefing from his then-special adviser within minutes of receiving it. Another, sent on Christmas Eve of that same year, allegedly contained a sensitive report on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.
Police had also been examining claims that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein specifically to have a sexual encounter with Andrew — an allegation he has consistently and firmly denied.
A Decades-Long Scandal Reaches a New Peak
Mountbatten-Windsor has spent years under the shadow of his connection to Epstein. In 2022, he reached an undisclosed financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who had accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager after being trafficked by Epstein. Giuffre, who passed away in April 2025, had been one of the most prominent voices in the ongoing legal fallout from Epstein’s crimes. Andrew always maintained he had no recollection of ever meeting her.
In late 2025, King Charles III stripped his younger brother of his remaining royal titles — including his position as Prince and Duke of York — and had him relocated from the prestigious Royal Lodge at Windsor to the far more modest Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate. The King had previously described his “profound concern” at the allegations continuing to emerge against his brother, with Buckingham Palace stating the Royal Family stood ready to cooperate with police if approached.
The Prince and Princess of Wales also publicly acknowledged the scandal in February 2026, with Kensington Palace confirming that William and Catherine had been “deeply concerned by the continued revelations,” and that their thoughts remained with the victims.
“Nobody Is Above the Law”
The political response was swift. Speaking on BBC Breakfast the morning of the arrest, Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the situation with characteristic directness. Asked whether he believed Mountbatten-Windsor should voluntarily speak to British police, Starmer declined to direct the former royal’s actions but was unequivocal on principle: “One of the core principles in our system is that everybody is equal under the law and nobody is above the law. It has to apply in this case in the same way it would in any other case.”
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright echoed the measured tone of the official investigation: “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.”
What Happens Next
As of the time of publication, Mountbatten-Windsor remains in police custody. No charges have been formally filed, and legally, an arrest on suspicion does not constitute guilt. Thames Valley Police have reminded the public and press that the case is now active, meaning any publication must take care to avoid being in contempt of court.
For a man who once walked royal corridors, appeared in uniform beside a Queen, and represented Britain on the world stage — the image of police cars on a quiet Norfolk estate on a cold February morning represents a fall of historic proportions. Whether it marks a final reckoning, or simply another chapter in an already extraordinary saga, remains to be seen.