Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested on February nineteen, two thousand twenty-six, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Thames Valley Police confirmed early on Thursday.

Officers detained the sixty-six-year-old at his residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where unmarked police vehicles and plainclothes officers were seen arriving just after eight o’clock in the morning as part of a broader investigation.

The force said it was also conducting searches at addresses in both Berkshire and Norfolk as the inquiry progresses.

Thames Valley Police, in a statement, said they had arrested “a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office” and that he remained in custody as the investigation continued.

The force emphasised that it was important to protect the integrity and objectivity of the inquiry and that further updates would be provided at the appropriate time.

The arrest follows an assessment phase in which police and prosecutors reviewed allegations linked to the so-called Epstein files – a tranche of documents published by the United States Department of Justice that has prompted renewed scrutiny of Mountbatten-Windsor’s past conduct.

Among the material under review are claims that, while serving as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy, he shared confidential government travel reports and documents with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

King Charles III, Andrew’s elder brother, issued a statement expressing his deepest concern over the arrest, underlining that the rule of law must take its course.

Buckingham Palace said the royal family would fully support the authorities as appropriate.

Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied any wrongdoing.

In recent years he was stripped of his royal titles and patronages amid reputational concerns tied to his association with Epstein.

The former duke’s legal status and the ongoing investigation have drawn intense public interest, with authorities underscoring the need for due process in a case of significant public prominence.