Former prince Andrew was released under investigation late Thursday after spending around 11 hours in police custody, following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in a public office related to his links to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Police arrested Andrew (66) early Thursday at his home in Sandringham, eastern England, taking him to a nearby police station. Officers also searched his former home on the Windsor estate, west of London, with searches believed to be continuing on Friday.
King Charles III issued a rare personally signed statement saying “the law must take its course”, reiterating that Buckingham Palace would support the police investigation.
Royal expert Ed Owens said it was a significant moment for the British monarchy, noting that much remained unclear, including whether Andrew would be criminally charged.
“It’s the unknown elements in this particular instance that I think pose so much concern and arguably a threat to the monarchy,” Owens said.
Most British newspapers carried a photograph of Andrew leaving the police station in a vehicle on their front pages on today.
International reaction
US President Donald Trump called the arrest “very sad”, telling reporters: “It’s so bad for the royal family.”
The arrest follows revelations last week that Andrew appeared to have sent Epstein potentially confidential documents while serving as a UK trade envoy, a post he held from 2001.
In a November 2010 email seen by AFP, Andrew appeared to share with the US financier reports on his visit to several Asian countries.
Epstein had been convicted in the United States in 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution.
Official guidance stipulates that trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive commercial or political information related to their official visits.
Background
King Charles III last year stripped his brother of his titles and ordered him to leave his Windsor mansion, though Andrew remains eighth in the line of succession.
The decision followed one of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Giuffre, recounting in her posthumous memoirs last year claims that she had been trafficked three times to have sex with Andrew, twice when she was 17.
Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein. He settled a US civil lawsuit in 2022 brought by Giuffre while not admitting liability.
Royal historian Anna Whitelock said it was the first arrest of a member of Britain’s royal family in centuries, possibly stretching back to Charles I’s surrender to the Scots army in 1646.
Charles carried out several public duties on Thursday, including opening London Fashion Week.
Ongoing investigation
The police investigation into misconduct in a public office allegations follows the US justice department releasing millions of files from its investigation into Epstein last month.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
At least nine UK police forces have confirmed they are assessing claims stemming from the Epstein files, many related to Andrew.
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