In a historic move, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested this morning at the Sandringham estate on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Officers reportedly arrived in a convoy of eight unmarked vehicles at his home, Wood Farm, after the former Duke of York was evicted from Royal Lodge due to his ties to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The charge is serious

The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince, is no small matter and has dominated tabloids and news outlets around the world since Thursday morning. The arrest marks a shocking first for the modern British royal family.

Thames Valley Police confirmed the 66-year-old was taken into custody and that searches were being conducted at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.

“We have today arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. The man remains in police custody at this time,” the force said.

The misconduct charge is serious.

Gareth Martin, a criminal defense lawyer, told Daily Mail:

“To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove more than just a mistake. They must show that a public officer, acting in their official capacity, willfully neglected their duty or misconducted themselves to such a degree that it strikes at the very heart of the public’s trust in that office. The threshold for this offense is exceptionally high. It should only be used where the conduct is so blameworthy that it warrants criminal punishment rather than civil or disciplinary action.”

A victim of sex trafficking?

Andrew is understood to have been questioned regarding allegations that he may have passed sensitive information to Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy, as well as claims that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with him.

Some of the newly released Epstein files include images of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, sparking intense public scrutiny and criticism. The most controversial photo reportedly shows Andrew with a woman lying beneath him, though her identity is protected and her face is not visible.

U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns that the woman in the image may have been a victim of sex trafficking.

Police have made it clear that his royal status offers no protection. Only the monarch, King Charles III, has sovereign immunity. While in custody, Andrew will be held in a standard cell, allowed legal representation, and may remain there for up to 24 hours without charge, though police can extend this to a maximum of 96 hours.

Melania Trump, Prince Andrew, Gwendolyn Beck and Jeffrey Epstein at a party at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000. (Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)

After that, he must either be charged or released.

Royal biographer Andrew Lownie welcomed the arrest, telling the Daily Mail:

“I am very pleased the police have moved quickly on this. I appreciate the arrest is only for misconduct allegation but there also seems to be evidence for the sex trafficking claims as well. As such the police should also question his family, and by that I mean his former wife Sarah Ferguson, and also his staff as well.”

Policing commentator Danny Shaw noted that arresting Andrew at his home rather than inviting him in for an interview was deliberate:

“Making an arrest carries the element of surprise; the person’s not expecting it. Carrying out the arrest enables them to do searches on the spot.”

Has denied all accusations

Misconduct in public office is classed as one of the most serious offenses in the UK. If convicted, Andrew could face life in prison, though a trial would need to take place at a Crown Court due to the seriousness of the crime.

The last member of the British royal family to face a criminal conviction was Princess Anne in 2002. She was fined $620 after one of her dogs bit two children, making her the first royal to have an official criminal record. In 2020, Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, received a six-month driving ban after being caught driving 91 mph in a 70 mph zone.

Former Prince Andrew Mountbatten has denied all accusations that have been so far leveled against him. While being mentioned in the Epstein files is a cause for concern, it does not automatically imply that any crime has been committed. And Andrew maintains that he was never involved in anything illegal with Epstein.