Former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested by the police in the United Kingdom over allegations he sent confidential government documents to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The police announced the arrest of Andrew, who is King Charles’ younger brother, on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
The arrest of a royal family member is unprecedented in Britain’s modern era. It marks a humiliating new blow for the ousted prince, who was last year stripped of his titles and turned 66 on Thursday as he was taken into custody.
Police said they were also searching two properties – in eastern England and west of London – as part of their probe.
“We have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” Thames Valley police said in a statement, without naming the suspect, as is common practice in the UK.
The police added that officers “are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk”, noting that “the man remains in police custody at this time”.
Images published by UK media showed a fleet of unmarked cars, believed to be police vehicles, arriving early Thursday at King Charles III’s Sandringham estate in eastern England where Andrew moved to earlier this month.
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The arrest follows new revelations last week that appeared to show Andrew sent convicted United States sex offender Epstein potentially confidential documents during his time as a UK trade envoy.
In a November 2010 email, Andrew appeared to share with Epstein reports on several Asian countries following an official visit to the region.
The ex-royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, also reportedly sent the American financier details of the trip – on which he was accompanied by Epstein’s business associates – along with investment opportunities months later.
Charles last year stripped his brother of his titles and ordered he leave his mansion on the Windsor estate – though he does remain eighth in the line of succession to the British throne.
It followed one of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Giuffre, recounting in shocking details in her posthumous memoirs allegations that she had been trafficked to have sex with Andrew when she was a teenager.
He has previously denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein.
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