King Charles’ Brother Andrew Released After Arrest on Suspicion of Misconduct in Public Office

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was “released under investigation” from police custody Thursday evening after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

He was photographed returning to the royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England, hours after unmarked police vehicles and plain-clothed officers arrived to conduct one of two searches.

Thames Valley Police confirmed it has concluded its searches in Norfolk, but “the searches in Berkshire are still underway.”

In accordance with U.K. guidance, the police force has not named the “arrested man,” instead referring to “a man in his sixties from Norfolk” in its statements.

Andrew's arrest landed on the same day as his 66th birthday.

“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,” said assistant chief constable Oliver Wright, who noted the public interest in the case. “It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence.”

Norfolk Police confirmed to TIME it is supporting the Thames Valley Police investigation.

Read More: U.K. Lawmakers Call for Independent Inquiry Into Royals

King Charles III expressed the “deepest concern” over the arrest of his brother, who has come under increased scrutiny over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“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,” said Charles in a statement Buckingham Palace shared with TIME Thursday afternoon.

Emphasizing that “the law must take its course,” Charles added: “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.”

Andrew has consistently and staunchly denied any wrongdoing. TIME has reached out to his representatives for comment.

The specifics of the allegations that led to Andrew's arrest have not yet been disclosed.

Thames Valley Police previously confirmed to TIME on Feb. 9 that they were “assessing the information” regarding allegations that Andrew—while serving as the U.K. trade envoy—shared confidential government reports with Epstein, detailing trips to Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam in 2010 and 2011.

The allegations stemmed from newly-unveiled correspondence between Andrew and Epstein, released as part of the U.S. Department of Justice's final drop of Epstein files on Jan. 30.

An email originally sent to someone titled “The Duke,” which was then forwarded to Epstein, reads: “Please find attached the visit reports for Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shenzhen in relation to your recent visit to South East Asia.”

Another email from "The Duke" to Epstein appeared to detail an investment opportunity in Afghanistan.

Prior to being stripped of his royal titles last year, Andrew was known as the Duke of York.

Read More: From Downing Street to the Royal Family, How the Epstein Files Broke Britain

The documents released by the DOJ also included a photograph of Andrew leaning over a woman on the floor. The woman’s face had been redacted and it’s unclear when or where the photograph was taken.

The image was displayed on a screen behind U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as she testified before the House Judiciary Committee over the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files on Feb. 11.

Police were also reviewing a fresh allegation that Epstein sent a woman to Andrew at the Royal Lodge residence in Windsor in 2010.

“We are aware of reports about a woman said to have been taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes,” a Thames Valley Police spokesperson told TIME on Feb. 4. “We are assessing the information in line with our established procedures.”

The new allegations related to Andrew have sparked renewed questions over his relationship with Epstein and his own conduct.

Speaking before news of Andrew's arrest, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “nobody is above the law” when asked if the royal should testify before U.S. Congress.

“Anybody who has any information should testify, whether it's Andrew or anyone else,” he told the BBC, echoing remarks made by Hillary Clinton during an interview broadcast earlier in the week.

Read More: Buckingham Palace ‘Ready to Support’ Police If Contacted Over Andrew Allegations Amid Epstein Row

Starmer faced calls to resign last month over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as U.K. ambassador to the U.S. in early 2025, despite it being known he had ties to Epstein. Mandelson was sacked from the position in September, after a previous release of files from the DOJ showed he had not been forthcoming over the extent of his relationship with the convicted sex offender.

The latest release of files proved even more damning, as they appeared to show Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to Epstein during his time as Business Secretary. A police investigation into Mandelson for alleged misconduct in public office offences is currently underway.

U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, commented on Andrew's arrest and the ongoing Epstein-related fallout Thursday evening, telling reporters aboard Air Force One: “I think it’s a shame. I think it's very sad. I think it's so bad for the royal family.”

“It's really interesting, because nobody used to speak about Epstein when he was alive, but now they speak,” added Trump, who has faced questions over his own ties to Epstein. “But I'm the one that can talk about it because [I have] been totally exonerated.”

Andrew's ties to Epstein and previous allegations

Andrew’s relationship with Epstein—and the fact he continued communicating with the disgraced financier after his initial conviction—has long been scrutinized.

Epstein was initially sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in 2008 after pleading guilty to state charges—one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. He was in custody once more awaiting trial on federal charges for the sex trafficking of minors when he died in a New York jail cell in 2019.

Andrew was famously interviewed on BBC’s Newsnight in 2019 and questioned over why he visited Epstein in New York in 2010.

The royal was accused of sexual abuse himself by one of Epstein’s most prominent victims, the late Virginia Giuffre. He strongly denied the allegations.

During his Newsnight interview, Andrew said he had no recollection of ever meeting Giuffre and seemingly questioned the veracity of a photograph of himself, Giuffre, and Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors.

In January 2022, Andrew was stripped of his key military titles and royal patronages in the midst of a civil sexual abuse case brought forward by Giuffre. A month later, he settled the lawsuit with Giuffre for an undisclosed amount.

Andrew was stripped of the remainder of his titles in late 2025, after additional allegations by Giuffre (who died in April 2025) came to light in her posthumous memoir.

Amid growing scrutiny, Andrew moved out of his Windsor residence, the Royal Lodge, in early February. He's currently living at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate.