Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was taken into custody on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office stemming from his time as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy. Authorities confirmed that a man in his sixties remains in custody while officers carry out searches at properties in Berkshire and Norfolk. He turned 66 the same day.
Police said they are working with partner agencies and stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of the investigation. Given the intense public attention surrounding the case, officials added that further updates would be provided when appropriate.
Unmarked police vehicles were seen earlier outside the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where Mountbatten-Windsor has been living since leaving his residence in Windsor.
Legal commentators note that suspects are typically held for 12 to 24 hours before being charged or released pending further inquiries. In rare circumstances, detention can be extended up to 96 hours with approval from senior officers and a Magistrates’ Court. If kept in custody, he would remain in a standard holding cell awaiting interview, without special privileges.
Questions Over Trade Envoy Role
The arrest follows recent disclosures suggesting Mountbatten-Windsor may have shared sensitive documents with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as trade envoy.
According to a report by the Financial Times, emails appear to show he agreed to assist in negotiating an $8 billion cash-for-oil deal between foreign entities. The correspondence reportedly continued while Epstein was under house arrest following his 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a minor.
Royal historian Craig Prescott of Royal Holloway, University of London described the situation as one of the most dramatic reputational collapses for a modern member of the royal family.
Earlier this month, Thames Valley Police confirmed it was assessing allegations tied to misconduct in public office.
Royal Fallout and Past Controversies
The unfolding investigation has reportedly caused unease within the royal household. King Charles III previously expressed concern and stated that Buckingham Palace would support police inquiries.
In October, the King removed Mountbatten-Windsor’s remaining royal titles and asked him to vacate Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. He had already stepped back from official duties in 2019 following a widely criticized interview with the BBC about his association with Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor has never been charged with crimes connected to Epstein and has consistently denied wrongdoing.
In 2022, he reached a financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was 17. While he did not admit liability, he acknowledged her suffering as a victim of sex trafficking in a joint statement. Reports at the time estimated the settlement at several million pounds.
Giuffre died by suicide in April at 41 at her home in Western Australia. Her memoir, Nobody’s Girl, was published posthumously in October.
As the investigation continues, the case marks another serious chapter in a long-running saga that has already reshaped Mountbatten-Windsor’s public life and standing within the monarchy.
