LONDON — Former British prince Andrew was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct during his tenure as a trade envoy, as UK police investigations linked to the Jeffrey Epstein files intensified.
Thames Valley Police said in a statement that “we have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” without naming the suspect, in line with UK practice.
Andrew, 66, who was stripped of all royal titles last year, resides at the Sandringham estate in eastern England. Unmarked police vehicles were reportedly seen arriving at the estate Thursday morning.
New reports indicate that Andrew shared documents with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his time as a trade envoy. An email from November 2010 reportedly shows Andrew sending Epstein reports on Vietnam, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Singapore following an official visit to Asia. He allegedly included investment opportunities in subsequent communications.
Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, previously denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein. He lost his royal titles after one of Epstein’s victims alleged she had been trafficked to have sex with him.
King Charles III issued a statement last week expressing concern over his brother’s actions and confirming that Buckingham Palace would support police inquiries.
Trade envoys are required to maintain confidentiality over sensitive commercial and political information from official visits. Andrew served as a British trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.
At least nine UK police forces are reviewing reports linking Andrew to Epstein. Surrey Police said Wednesday they were aware of a redacted report alleging human trafficking and sexual assaults on a minor in Virginia Water between 1994 and 1996, but noted no evidence that the allegations had been previously reported to them.
Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other figures have called for broader investigations into flights connected to Epstein arriving at UK airports over several decades. London’s Metropolitan Police is also investigating former UK ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson’s links to Epstein.