Former Prince Andrew jailed over allegations of misconduct in public office revealed in Epstein files
The former Prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on Thursday accused of misconduct in public office after the revelations in the Epstein files. The younger brother of King Charles III was arrested on his 66th birthday, almost two weeks after files released by the US Department of Justice prompted an anti-royalty group to ask police to investigate documents showing Andrew shared secret government information with the late American spy when the royal was acting as Britain’s trade envoy.
News of Andrew’s arrest – on his 66th birthday – came after a number of police cars were seen arriving on Thursday morning. his new residence in the area of Charles’ Sandringham in the east of England in the county of Norfolk.
Shortly after 8 am local time (3 am Eastern) six unmarked police cars were seen arriving at Wood Farm in King Charles’ Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, where Mountbatten-Windsor recently resided.
Thames Valley Police confirmed last week that it was investigating claims against Mountbatten-Windsor that it appeared in the latest release of the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice.
In a statement on Thursday, Thames Valley Police confirmed that, “as part of the investigation, we have today (19/2) arrested a sixty-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and are conducting searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.” It said the suspect, whose name was not released in accordance with police procedures, “is currently in police custody.”
In an interview last Thursday with the partner network of CBS News, BBC News, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “no one is above the law” when asked about Mountbatten-Windsor.
“I think that is a matter for the police, they will do their own investigation, but one of the core principles in our program is that everyone is equal under the law and no one is above the law,” said Starmer.
Last week, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on behalf of the king that the royal family will cooperate if the police come to ask questions about Mountbatten-Windsor.
“The King has made clear, in words and actions that have never been seen before, his deep concern about the allegations that continue to emerge about Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” a Buckingham Palace spokesman said in a statement. “While the claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to answer, if contacted by Thames Valley Police we are as ready to support them as you would expect.”
CBS News has sought comment from Mountbatten-Windsor’s representatives several times since the Epstein files first revealed her close relationship with Epstein. He didn’t answer, but in the past he kept denying that anything was wrong.
What’s in the Epstein files on Andrew?
While previous allegations about Andrew’s actions in the Epstein files focused on the ex-king’s encounters with young women in association with Epstein, the anti-monarchy group the Republic called earlier this month for a formal investigation into his actions as a British trade official.
Emails among millions of documents issued by the US Department of Justice on Jan. 30 it seems that the former prince passed on secret reports about his visits as the official British trade envoy to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam, including details of investment opportunities.
One email thread shows that after her Asia trip, on November 30, 2010, Mountbatten-Windsor sent official reports on her visit, sent to her by her then-special adviser Amit Patel, to Epstein, minutes after receiving them. None of the messages from the then prince to Epstein correspond to the message that was transmitted.
Another email exchange between the men, the following month, appears to show Mountbatten-Windsor sharing files he described as “top secret” about potential investment opportunities in southern Afghanistan where British forces were based at the time.
Then Prince Andrew said he shared the documents with Epstein to seek “comments, ideas or opinions on who I can best show this to attract” to the opportunities described in brief.
The allegations coincide with similar revelations from the latest section of the Epstein files suggesting that former British Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson shared classified government information with the late American financier. London Metropolitan Police confirm the investigation in his actions earlier this month.
Starmer’s decision to tap Mandelson for an important diplomatic post delivered great pressure on the UK leader to resignalthough they follow i the resignation of his chief of staffStarmer appeared likely to hold on to his job, at least for now.
