Britain’s Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and younger brother of King Charles III, has reportedly been arrested by police investigating allegations of misconduct in public office tied to his past associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to BBC News, officers detained the royal at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in eastern England. Witnesses reported that several unmarked police vehicles and plainclothes officers were present at the property on Thursday morning, which coincided with Andrew’s 66th birthday.
Authorities from Thames Valley Police confirmed they had been assessing whether a criminal investigation should proceed after a complaint was filed by an anti-monarchy activist.
The complaint followed allegations that Andrew may have shared confidential trade information with Epstein during his tenure as a UK trade envoy. Under British law, officials in such roles are bound by confidentiality obligations even after leaving office.
Andrew, who previously served as a UK special representative for trade and investment, has consistently denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. He was never criminally charged over earlier allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was forced into encounters with him as a minor. The prince denied the claims but later reached a multimillion-pound civil settlement with Giuffre without admitting liability.
Andrew withdrew from public royal duties in 2019 amid intense scrutiny over his relationship with Epstein. Buckingham Palace has not issued an official statement regarding the reported arrest as of press time.
