Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested Thursday by an area U.Okay. police drive on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace, a rare growth as the previous royal faces intense scrutiny over his ties to late intercourse predator Jeffrey Epstein.
He’s the primary senior member of the royal household to face arrest in practically 380 years.
Thames Valley Police issued a statement asserting that they detained “a person in his sixties from Norfolk” and had been “finishing up searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.”
The police assertion didn’t title the previous prince, however the report is in keeping with Andrew’s alleged misconduct.
The company had previously said it was evaluating a criticism that Andrew might have shared confidential data with Epstein.
After about 12 hours within the Aylsham Police Investigation Centre, a black Vary Rover got here to assemble the previous prince. The BBC reported that Andrew tried to lie down within the again seat, however was not in a position to take action earlier than he could possibly be snapped by a photographer.
Andrew, brother of King Charles III, has been beneath the microscope over his relationship with Epstein following the newest launch of information by the U.S. Division of Justice. He has denied wrongdoing.
Charles said the royal household would cooperate with the investigation.
“What now follows is the total, truthful and correct course of by which this situation is investigated within the applicable method and by the suitable authorities,” he mentioned in an announcement. “On this, as I’ve mentioned earlier than, they’ve our full and wholehearted help and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the legislation should take its course.”
“As this course of continues, it might not be proper for me to remark additional on this matter,” he added. “In the meantime, my household and I’ll proceed in our obligation and repair to you all.”
The BBC reported that Charles and Buckingham Palace weren’t given advance discover of Andrew’s arrest.
The arrest got here on the identical day as Andrew’s birthday — he had simply turned 66.
AP Picture/Joanna Chan, File
Andrew was stripped of his royal title in October as extra particulars got here to gentle about his relationship to Epstein. Earlier this month, he moved out of the Royal Lodge in Windsor and relocated to the king’s Sandringham property. He stays eighth in line to the British throne, and the U.Okay. authorities would need to pass a new law to take away him from the road of succession.
Photos appeared to indicate unmarked police vehicles driving close to Sandringham Property on Thursday morning.
Peter Nicholls by way of Getty Photos
The newest trove of Epstein information launched by the DOJ instructed that Andrew gave Epstein confidential data in 2010 and 2011, together with experiences of journeys to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam, and a confidential temporary detailing funding alternatives within the reconstruction of Helmand Province in Afghanistan, from his official work as U.Okay. commerce envoy, the BBC reported.
On high of evaluating that data, Thames Valley Police beforehand mentioned it was assessing allegations {that a} lady was trafficked by Epstein to the U.Okay. to have intercourse with Andrew, according to The Times of London.
Eight different police forces are probing allegations made within the Epstein information or on the lookout for extra data, The Occasions of London famous. The U.Okay.’s Nationwide Crime Company is also assisting those investigations.
This marks the primary time a senior member of the royal household has been arrested since 1647. If Andrew is formally charged with misconduct in public workplace, he might face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
King Charles I used to be arrested in 1647 through the English Civil Battle and beheaded two years later after being discovered responsible of treason, per The Guardian.
Princess Anne, Andrew’s sister, was convicted of a legal offense after pleading responsible to failing to restrain one in all her canines from biting two kids in 2002, a 12 months after she was fined for rushing, Reuters noted. She didn’t face arrest because of the offense.
In an interview with BBC Breakfast taped forward of Andrew’s arrest, U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “no person is above the legislation” when requested if the previous prince ought to flip himself over to the police.
Aaron Chown/Pool Picture by way of AP
In the meantime, the household of Virginia Giuffre, one in all Epstein’s most outstanding accusers, welcomed Andrew’s arrest.
“He was by no means a prince. For survivors in every single place, Virginia did this for you,” Sky and Amanda Roberts and Danny and Lanette Wilson mentioned in a statement.
Miami Herald by way of Getty Photos
Giuffre, who died by suicide in Australia last April, sued Andrew in 2015, alleging he had sexually assaulted her on three separate events when she was a young person.
Andrew has constantly denied the allegation but agreed to pay Giuffre an undisclosed quantity to settle the case.
