Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III, has been arrested by Thames Valley police on suspicion of misconduct in public office, marking the first arrest of a senior British royal in modern history.
The arrest took place on Thursday morning, the day Mr Mountbatten-Windsor turned 66. Police confirmed that a man in his sixties from Norfolk had been detained and remains in custody while searches are being carried out at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. Although police declined to name the individual in line with national guidance, it is widely reported that the arrest concerns the former prince.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police stated: “As part of the investigation, we have today arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
“The man remains in police custody at this time. We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance. Please also remember that this case is now active, so care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court,” it added.
Assistant chief constable Oliver Wright added: “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."
The development follows renewed scrutiny of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s long-standing association with Jeffrey Epstein after the partial release of files by the US department of justice (DoJ) in recent months. Emails reportedly included correspondence appearing to show Mr Mountbatten-Windsor sharing details of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore during his tenure as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.
One email, dated November 2010, was said to have been forwarded minutes after being sent by his then special adviser, while another, sent on Christmas Eve 2010, allegedly shared a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand province in Afghanistan.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor resigned from his role as trade envoy in 2011 amid scrutiny over his expenses and associations. He continued to carry out official duties on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II until 2019, when public criticism intensified over his friendship with Mr Epstein.
In 2022, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor settled a civil lawsuit in the US brought by Virginia Giuffre, who had alleged she was trafficked to him by Mr Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. He denied wrongdoing and the settlement was reached without admission of liability. That same year, Queen Elizabeth II removed his military affiliations and royal patronages, and he ceased using the style 'Royal Highness'. In 2025, King Charles III stripped him of his remaining royal styles and honours and restricted his use of titles and peerages.
Last October, Buckingham Palace announced that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor would vacate Royal Lodge in Windsor amid mounting concerns about reputational risk to the monarchy. He subsequently relocated to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate. Despite these changes, he remains eighth in line to the throne.
The arrest is unprecedented in modern times. The last comparable instance involving a senior royal dates back to 1647, when Charles I of England was detained during the English Civil War before being tried and executed in 1649. More recently, Princess Anne was convicted and fined under the Dangerous Dogs Act in 2002, though she was not arrested.
The latest move by police comes after the campaign group Republic reportedly submitted material urging an investigation into suspected misconduct in public office and an alleged breach of the Official Secrets Act. In February 2026, Thames Valley police confirmed they were considering the report before proceeding with Thursday’s arrest.
The arrest is likely to intensify scrutiny of the royal family and raises significant constitutional and reputational questions for the monarchy at a time of renewed public debate about transparency and accountability in public life.
