Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the United Kingdom’s former royal, has been released from police custody following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The arrest stems from allegations that he sent confidential government documents to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy, reports Al Jazeera.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday, was questioned throughout the day by detectives from Thames Valley Police. Earlier this month, the police force confirmed it was reviewing allegations that he had passed documents to Epstein during his official tenure.
The investigation was launched after US authorities released more than 3 million pages of documents related to the disgraced financier. Files suggest that in 2010, Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded reports to Epstein regarding official trips to Vietnam, Singapore, and other locations.
One confidential memo reportedly sought Epstein’s views on investment opportunities in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright stated that a formal investigation has been opened following a “thorough assessment”. “It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence,” he added.
Following the arrest, King Charles III stated that “the law must take its course”. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in, asserting that “no one is above the law” and suggesting that Mountbatten-Windsor should cooperate with United States authorities in their own investigations.
Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The family of Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein accuser who died by suicide last year at age 41, welcomed the news of the arrest. “At last, today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty,” Giuffre’s siblings said in a statement.
Giuffre had previously alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor on three occasions, including twice when she was 17. While he consistently denied the sexual abuse allegations, he paid Giuffre a multimillion-pound settlement in 2022 to resolve a lawsuit without admitting guilt.
The ongoing controversy resulted in the former prince being stripped of his royal titles and honours last year. He was also ousted from his mansion on the royal estate at Windsor.
Political commentators have described the latest developments as “incredibly damaging” to the British establishment. Milena Veselinovic, reporting from London, noted that the arrest represents “another blow to the branding of the monarchy” for a figure who was once a high-profile member of the royal family.
The arrest follows a commitment made by the royal family last week to cooperate with the police regarding any investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor.
