Former Prince Andrew Arrested on Misconduct Allegations

Police continue to search ex-royal's homes a day after his release from custody

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested and held for 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Police have searched Mountbatten-Windsor's former homes, but he remains under investigation and has not been charged or exonerated.

Why it matters

The arrest of a former royal on misconduct allegations is highly unusual and represents a major crisis for the British monarchy. The investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor's links to Epstein has been ongoing for years, and the release of emails appears to show he shared confidential government information with the disgraced financier.

The details

Police arrested Mountbatten-Windsor at his home on his 66th birthday and took him to a nearby police station for questioning. The allegations center around claims that he shared confidential trade information with Epstein when he was a U.K. trade envoy. Experts say proving misconduct in public office is notoriously difficult, and prosecutors will have to determine if there is a realistic prospect of conviction and if it is in the public interest to charge him.

  • Police arrested Mountbatten-Windsor at 8 a.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2026, his 66th birthday.
  • Mountbatten-Windsor was held in custody for the best part of 11 hours before being released on Thursday evening.

The players

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Formerly known as Prince Andrew, he is the younger brother of King Charles III and was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

A late convicted sex offender with whom Mountbatten-Windsor had a close friendship.

Virginia Giuffre

A woman who claimed she was trafficked to Britain to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was 17, though the current allegations are not related to those claims. Giuffre died by suicide last year.

Amanda Roberts

Giuffre's sister-in-law, who expressed feelings of "vindication" but also sadness that Giuffre could not share in the news of Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest.

Sean Caulfield

A criminal defense lawyer who said proving misconduct in public office is notoriously difficult.

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What they’re saying

“We can't tell her how much we love her, and that everything that she was doing is not in vain.”

— Amanda Roberts, Giuffre's sister-in-law

“Firstly, it must be determined if Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was in a role within government that constitutes the title of public officer. There is no standard definition to clearly draw on.”

— Sean Caulfield, Criminal defense lawyer

What’s next

The Crown Prosecution Service will ultimately decide whether to charge Mountbatten-Windsor, applying a two-stage test to determine if there is a realistic prospect of conviction and if it is in the public interest.

The takeaway

The arrest of a former royal on misconduct allegations represents a historic crisis for the British monarchy, raising questions about the institution's ability to weather such scandals and the ongoing fallout from Mountbatten-Windsor's ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.