In a historic and unprecedented event for the British monarchy, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested shortly after 8 am on Thursday at Wood Farm, located on the king’s private Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Plainclothes officers from Thames Valley Police carried out the arrest on his 66th birthday, February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This act, described by commentators as shocking and a body blow to the British crown, marks the first arrest of a senior member of the royal family in modern history, drawing comparisons to the detention of King Charles I in 1647 during the English Civil War.

Following the arrest, police immediately embarked on searches at Wood Farm and Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, seeking computers, phones, and other devices that could yield evidence. Thames Valley Police confirmed the arrest of "a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office," and stated that he remained in police custody. While there is no formal protocol for police to notify the government of high-profile arrests, Thames Valley Police had briefed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s office in advance, deeming it "good practice" due to the incendiary nature of the situation. Despite the notification to the Home Office, King Charles III and Buckingham Palace were not warned of the impending arrest.

The central allegation behind the charge of misconduct in public office stems from Mountbatten-Windsor’s tenure as a UK trade envoy. It is alleged that he used this official role to forward sensitive government documents and commercial information to Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased US financier and convicted child sex offender. The US Department of Justice had recently released millions of documents related to Epstein, with early discoveries including emails from November and December 2010 where Mountbatten-Windsor appeared to share confidential briefs on investment opportunities and government information with Epstein.

Mountbatten-Windsor's controversial association with Epstein has been public knowledge for years. Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died by suicide last year, claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to have sexual encounters with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was 17. Although Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing, including the allegations made by Giuffre, he reached an out-of-court settlement with her. Furthermore, FBI inquiries into Epstein in 2011 had already brought Mountbatten-Windsor’s name to their attention, with US prosecutors seeking to interview him in 2019, an offer he repeatedly declined.

King Charles III, upon learning of his brother’s arrest, promptly issued a formal statement, asserting that "the law must take its course" and offering the police the royal family’s "full and wholehearted support and cooperation." His statement deliberately referred to Andrew by his full name, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, without mentioning their fraternal relationship, emphasizing the gravity and impartiality of the legal process. The Prince and Princess of Wales swiftly echoed their support for the King's stance, and senior politicians, including the prime minister, reiterated that "nobody is above the law."

The charge of misconduct in public office is a complex and serious offence in British law, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Legal experts note that prosecutors must prove the accused "wilfully misconducted" himself, presenting several hurdles for the prosecution. The decision by Thames Valley Police to arrest Mountbatten-Windsor at his home, rather than arranging an interview via his legal counsel, indicates a high level of confidence in the evidence gathered so far and allowed officers to immediately search his properties for electronic devices and documents.

While this arrest sets a modern precedent, members of the royal family have had previous brushes with the law. Princess Anne, for instance, was fined under the Dangerous Dogs Act in 2002 after her dog bit two children and also faced fines for speeding on multiple occasions. Her daughter, Zara Tindall, received a driving ban in 2020. Prince Philip voluntarily surrendered his driving license in 2019 following a car accident, though no prosecution was pursued.

Beyond the UK, other royal families have also faced legal scrutiny. Spain’s ex-King Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 amidst corruption investigations and harassment allegations. In Norway, Marius Borg Hoiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is currently on trial for a multitude of charges, including alleged rapes and assaults, highlighting that legal accountability extends across European monarchies.

The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor amplifies calls for reform within the British monarchy. Commentators argue that the incident underscores the outdated reliance on celebrity and extravagance by the extended "royal family" structure established in 1969. The monarchy's legitimacy, dependent entirely on public support, faces renewed scrutiny as this event unfolds. Discussions about limiting the number of working royals, altering their roles, and greater fiscal transparency regarding royal estates and palaces are gaining traction, with some suggesting a move towards purely figurative roles, similar to other European monarchies, to better serve future generations of the royal family and the nation.