British Police Detain Ex-Prince Andrew Over Epstein Ties And Raid Royal Properties

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

LONDON (Worthy News) – British police raided two properties linked to former Prince Andrew on Thursday and detained the 66-year-old royal on suspicion of misconduct in public office, escalating scrutiny over his past association with the late U.S. financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

King Charles III of Britain said, “The law must take its course,” following the arrest of his brother.

Andrew, formally known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was released under investigation late Thursday after spending about 11 hours in custody.

He was photographed leaving Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk, a largely agricultural county on England’s east coast, shortly after 7 p.m. local time, seated in the back of a vehicle.

POLICE SEARCH SANDRINGHAM

Detectives from Thames Valley Police arrested Andrew at Wood Farm, a farmhouse on the royal family’s privately owned Sandringham Estate in rural eastern England, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of London. Sandringham has long served as a private royal retreat and is traditionally where the royal family gathers for Christmas.

Officers also searched Royal Lodge, his former residence in Windsor, west of the capital.

Thames Valley Police, which is leading the investigation, is responsible for law enforcement across the Thames Valley region west of London, including the town of Windsor.

Police said a “man in his 60s from Norfolk” was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The offense can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under British law.

Investigators are examining allegations that while serving as the United Kingdom’s special trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, Andrew shared confidential or sensitive government information with Epstein.

EPSTEIN FILES RENEW SCRUTINY

The latest allegations surfaced following the release of additional emails by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of documents commonly referred to as the “Epstein files.”

Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, prompting global scrutiny of his connections with influential figures.

Andrew has previously denied criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

His public standing deteriorated sharply in 2019 after a widely criticized BBC “Newsnight” interview in which he defended his friendship with Epstein. The backlash led him to step back from public duties.

TITLES REMOVED AMID CONTROVERSY

In 2022, Buckingham Palace announced Andrew would no longer use the style “His Royal Highness” in official settings and that his honorary military titles and royal patronages were withdrawn.

That same year, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who had accused him of sexual abuse when she was 17. Andrew denied the allegations, and the settlement included no admission of liability.

In a statement Thursday, the king said authorities would have the royal household’s “full and wholehearted support and cooperation.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “nobody is above the law” and urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.

HISTORIC MOMENT FOR MONARCHY

The detention is widely described by British media as the first time in modern history that a senior member of the royal family has been formally arrested and questioned by police.

Police said searches at the Norfolk property had concluded, while activity linked to the Windsor address was continuing. The Crown Prosecution Service said it remains in contact with investigators and is prepared to provide advice if needed.

Being released under investigation means Andrew has not been charged but remains subject to ongoing inquiries.

For Britain’s constitutional monarchy, the case represents one of the most serious legal and reputational challenges in decades.

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