Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Arrested on 66th Birthday in Historic Royal Crisis
In the most seismic moment for the British monarchy since the abdication of King Edward VIII, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — the man once known as Prince Andrew — was arrested on Thursday, February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former prince, who turned 66 on the day of his arrest, spent nearly 11 hours in police custody before being released under investigation, setting off a constitutional and royal firestorm that continues to intensify.
The Arrest: What Happened and Why
Thames Valley Police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on February 19, 2026, his birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He faces allegations he allegedly sent confidential trade reports to Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 while serving as Britain's special envoy for international trade.
Police chiefs notified the country's interior ministry, known as the Home Office, before the arrest "in line with routine practice," giving 30 minutes' notice before Thames Valley Police moved.
In a police statement, Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: "Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office." Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was photographed slouched in the back of a chauffeur-driven car leaving Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk, eastern England, looking distressed after his release.
The Charges: Misconduct in Public Office and the Epstein Files
The allegations being investigated are separate from those made by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked to Britain to have sex with the prince in 2001, when she was just 17. Giuffre died by suicide last year.
British authorities moved after the U.S. Justice Department released another 3.5 million files related to Epstein. Some of the documents detailed communications between Epstein and the former prince while he was serving as British trade envoy.
If Mountbatten-Windsor is convicted of misconduct in public office, he could face life in prison.
Police Search Two Royal Residences
The investigation rapidly widened after the arrest.
On Saturday, police continued to search the former home of Mountbatten-Windsor and their investigation appeared to intensify with the focus turning to former members of the prince's close protection unit, and what they may have witnessed. London's Metropolitan Police said it was identifying and contacting former and serving security officers who may have worked closely with Mountbatten-Windsor.
Police searched both his former home Royal Lodge — the 30-room Windsor estate mansion — and Wood Farm at Sandringham, where he relocated earlier in February after King Charles forced him to vacate Royal Lodge amid mounting pressure.
King Charles III Reacts: "The Law Must Take Its Course"
After pledging to support the police investigation into his brother's relationship with the late convicted sex offender Epstein, King Charles reiterated his intentions to the British public. "My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all," he said in a statement signed "Charles R."
The royals carried on with their public events schedule on the day of the arrest. King Charles attended London's Fashion Week while Queen Camilla attended a concert in Westminster. Princess Anne visited a prison in Leeds for a pre-scheduled tour.
Parliament Now Considers Removing Andrew From Line of Succession
The constitutional fallout from the arrest has forced the government's hand on a question previously considered too politically complex to pursue.
Despite losing his status as prince and facing a police investigation, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne. That can only be changed with new legislation.
The British government is considering formally removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession once the police investigation has concluded. Any such move would require an act of Parliament, a lengthy and politically uncertain process that would also likely have to be approved by other Commonwealth countries, such as Canada and Australia, where the British monarch is the head of state.
A poll by YouGov on Friday found 82% of Britons now believe that Mountbatten-Windsor should be removed from the line of succession.
Timeline: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Fall From Grace
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2001–2011 | Served as UK trade envoy; alleged Epstein document sharing |
| 2019 | Disastrous BBC Newsnight interview; stepped back from royal duties |
| 2022 | Settled Virginia Giuffre civil lawsuit without admitting guilt |
| Oct. 2025 | King Charles stripped him of princely title; evicted from Royal Lodge |
| Feb. 2, 2026 | Relocated to Wood Farm, Sandringham |
| Feb. 19, 2026 | Arrested on 66th birthday; released under investigation after ~11 hours |
| Feb. 20–22, 2026 | Police search Royal Lodge; close protection officers questioned |
What Comes Next for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
His release "under investigation" indicates this is going to be a long-term process. It means he is suspected of a crime, has not been formally charged, and there are no conditions or timeline as to how long the investigation will take.
Ultimately, at some point the police and the Crown Prosecution Service will have to decide whether to charge Mountbatten-Windsor — a decision that might take weeks or months. If a trial were ever to proceed, it would carry the extraordinary designation of The King v. Mountbatten-Windsor — the elder brother's state authority pitted formally against the younger.
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor marks the most severe royal crisis in nearly a century, with the monarchy's reputation, the British constitution, and international Commonwealth relationships all now drawn into a legal saga that shows no sign of slowing down.
