British authorities arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother of King Charles III, on February 19, 2026, over allegations of sharing confidential government documents with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Thames Valley Police confirmed a man in his sixties from Norfolk remains in custody for suspected misconduct in public office.
The arrest follows the release of U.S. government files suggesting Andrew, who served as a UK special trade envoy until 2011, forwarded sensitive reports about Vietnam and Singapore to Epstein in 2010. Anti-monarchy group Republic filed the initial complaint after reviewing over 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents.
Buckingham Palace stated it would support any official investigation, noting King Charles has expressed "profound concern" about the allegations through "unprecedented actions" – including stripping Andrew of royal titles in October 2025. The former Duke of York has consistently denied wrongdoing but declined to comment on the latest developments.
Legal experts highlight the complexity of prosecuting misconduct in public office, a common law offense requiring proof of intentional abuse of power. Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service continue coordinating on potential charges.
