Andrew Formerly Known As Prince Arrested
On his birthday, no less.
BBC appears to have broken the news, but is running a live blog (“Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested and in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office“) rather than a regular story. Some high points:
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested and is in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office – read the police statement in full
- Officers are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk, as well as at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park where Andrew lived until recently
- Photos show vehicles, believed to be police cars, arriving at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk earlier this morning
- King Charles says he “learned with the deepest concern” of Andrew’s arrest, adding “the law must take its course”
- It comes after Thames Valley Police said they were assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
- Andrew, who turns 66 today, has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein; he has not responded to the BBC’s requests for comment on the specific allegations in relation to the release of millions of Epstein files in January
Daniel Sandford adds:
It’s worth nothing that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has not been arrested for anything surrounding Virginia Giuffre.
What’s led to him being arrested is information in the Epstein files around activities while he was a trade envoy.
Although we don’t know specifics, there has to be an assumption that part of this is going to be the sharing of documents within the Epstein files – between Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein himself. That’s when Thames Valley Police got involved.
But once you’re investigating somebody for alleged misconduct in public office, it doesn’t have to focus only on those emails which we’ve seen publicly in the Epstein files.
The statement from Andrew’s brother, King Charles, is striking:
I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office.
What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.
In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation.
Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.
As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.
Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all. Charles R.
This was, of course, foreshadowed when his own mother stripped him of his royal rank years ago:
Granting that the UK monarchy is a shadow of its former self in terms of power, it’s nonetheless striking that Andrew will apparently face the full force of the law as a private citizen. And noteworthy that his former royal status is both what gave him access to Jeffrey Epstein’s circle and invited the degree of scrutiny that he’s since received.
Well, that’s a birthday he’ll not soon forget.
I’m not surprised about the King’s statement. His duty is to the monarchy and the people first, and that family definitely takes that commitment seriously. I have long had the sense that they were trying to figure out how to contain the damage Andrew has caused, and passing secrets to Epstein would be well past the final straw. Andrew is about to go through some things, I’m sure, and he’ll have to do most of it alone.
I’d like to think that this is the first domino to fall and various Epstein pals in the United States might be quaking in their boots, then I remember Trump is President and there will be no consequences for anyone on this side of the pond.
I hate this timeline.
I’m sure this has crossed a lot of people’s minds:
If ex-Prince Andrew can be held accountable, then maybe….
Meanwhile, Trump tells the gaggle aboard AF1 that the Epstein files have “exonerated” him; “there’s nothing in there”….”completely innocent” and on and on in the same vein with which he claimed the Mueller report “exonerated” him. Clearly, he either doesn’t know what the word exonerate means, or he knows he can endlessly repeat “up is down,” and MAGA will buy it. Kudos to the Brits (and King Charles) for using Andrew’s case to show their fealty to the law.
I can’t imagine that this didn’t get the sign off from both the King and the PM. The evidence must be damning and bad. Bad in the sense that it’s probably better to hang Andy out to dry (and probably fully nuke Starmer*) than it would be for the actual facts to get leaked by someone.
There’s also the fact that no matter what this is probably a major foreign policy crisis both countries.
*I mean, he’s a dead man walking now anyway. Stuck between Mendalson & the Labour Together scandal, a skilled politician would have problems. Starmer is an empty suit full of shit.