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Former Prince Andrew was arrested on his 66th birthday, February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a rarely invoked but serious offense under UK law. The arrest, confirmed by multiple sources, follows a renewed investigation into his conduct during his decade-long tenure as the UK’s trade envoy.
Detectives are examining whether Andrew allegedly shared confidential information with the late Jeffrey Epstein, according to documents released by the US Department of Justice. The documents include emails suggesting Andrew forwarded official reports relating to trade visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore to Epstein. One email, dated November 2010, appears to have been forwarded by Andrew to Epstein just five minutes after being sent by his special advisor, Amir Patel. Another, sent on Christmas Eve 2010, reportedly contained a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
King Charles III issued a statement expressing “deepest concern” upon learning of his brother’s arrest. “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,” the King said, pledging his support for a “full, fair and proper process.”
Police searched two royal residences on Thursday: Royal Lodge, Andrew’s former residence in Windsor, and Wood Farm, his home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Officers were observed patrolling the gates of Royal Lodge early Thursday morning, local time.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) defines misconduct in public office as “the serious willful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held.” A spokesperson for the CPS confirmed to the Guardian that it had not yet provided advice to detectives regarding potential charges.
The arrest comes after the release of millions of pages of documents related to Epstein’s crimes, including a photograph of Andrew on all fours beside an unidentified woman. The image, contained within the released files, has drawn renewed scrutiny to Andrew’s association with Epstein.
Andrew was stripped of his honours, styles, and royal titles, including his peerage as Duke of York, in October 2025, amid ongoing controversy surrounding his relationship with Epstein. He had previously withdrawn from public roles in May 2020 following a widely criticized interview on the BBC’s Newsnight program in November 2019, where he discussed his association with Epstein.
Andrew remains in custody as detectives continue their investigation. No further details regarding the specific allegations have been released by authorities.