Former royal prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested amid Epstein row: What we know so far
Times of India
by TOI WORLD DESKFebruary 19, 2026
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Former royal prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother of King Charles III, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, marking a significant and unprecedented event in modern British monarchy history. The arrest is linked to his alleged connections to the infamous Epstein Files, which have previously revealed compromising interactions between Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex trafficking minors. Thames Valley Police conducted a search at Sandringham estate, Andrew's residence, on his 66th birthday, following the release of new emails by the US Department of Justice. Neither King Charles nor Buckingham Palace were informed in advance about the arrest, which has drawn widespread attention and sparked debates over public accountability and royal privileges.
The scandal surrounding Andrew dates back years, with newly released documents suggesting he shared confidential papers with Epstein during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy. At least nine police forces in the UK are reviewing reports linking him to Epstein, including allegations of inappropriate interactions with Virginia Giuffre, a woman trafficked by Epstein, who claimed Andrew had encounters with her when she was underage. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains his innocence. The arrest has deepened public distrust toward him, as 91% of respondents in an October YouGov poll held negative views of him. His reputation was already tarnished by past controversies, including his nickname "Randy Andy" and allegations of misconduct during Epstein’s dinners at Buckingham Palace.
The legal proceedings against Andrew are a major blow to the British monarchy, with critics arguing that his actions have damaged its credibility. The release of images from Epstein-related files showing Andrew in compromising positions has further fueled public outrage, despite a lack of context about when or where the photos were taken. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that "nobody
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/19/2026