Former Prince Andrew Arrested on Misconduct Suspicion

On February 19, 2026, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew and Duke of York, was arrested on his 66th birthday and questioned for 11 hours by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The investigation stems from documents released on January 30, 2026, as part of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which allege that Andrew shared confidential government trade reports with the convicted sex offender during his time as the United Kingdom's trade envoy in the early 2000s.

Andrew, who was stripped of his His Royal Highness style, prince title, and dukedom by King Charles III in November 2025, was released pending further inquiry. Authorities have not yet filed charges, but legal experts indicate that a conviction could result in a maximum life sentence, though a shorter term would likely apply for a first-time offender. The arrest marks the first detention of a British royal family member in nearly 400 years and has intensified scrutiny of Andrew's past associations with Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.

Royal biographer Andrew Lownie described Andrew's mindset as one of deep grievance. "He still...