Former Prince Andrew Arrested on Misconduct Allegations

King Charles III and police release statements on the arrest of the ex-royal

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former British prince, was arrested by Thames Valley Police on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into the ex-royal's alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. King Charles III has pledged the royal family's support for the police investigation.

Why it matters

The arrest of the former Prince Andrew is a high-profile case that continues to raise questions about the British royal family's handling of allegations against its members. It also highlights the ongoing scrutiny of the royal family's connections to disgraced figures like Jeffrey Epstein.

The details

Police arrested the 66-year-old former prince on Thursday, though they did not name him publicly per U.K. guidelines. Authorities said they executed searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk as part of the misconduct investigation. The former prince has been stripped of his royal titles due to his links to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

  • On February 19, 2026, police arrested the former Prince Andrew.
  • In the fall of 2025, King Charles III revoked his brother's royal titles and appointments.

The players

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The 66-year-old former British prince who was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office as part of an investigation into his alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

King Charles III

The current King of the United Kingdom who has pledged the royal family's support for the police investigation into the former Prince Andrew.

Thames Valley Police

The U.K. police force that arrested the former Prince Andrew and is leading the investigation into allegations of misconduct.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Oliver Wright, Assistant Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police (Thames Valley Police)

“The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor's conduct. While the specific claims in question are for Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect.”

— Buckingham Palace (Buckingham Palace)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the former Prince Andrew to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This high-profile arrest of the former Prince Andrew continues to shine a spotlight on the British royal family's handling of allegations against its members and their connections to disgraced figures like Jeffrey Epstein. The investigation will likely raise further questions about accountability and transparency within the monarchy.