Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, became the first member of the modern British royal family to be arrested when police took him into custody on Thursday. The arrest happened on the morning of his 66th birthday. Officers arrived at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where Andrew has lived since leaving Royal Lodge earlier this month. Multiple police vehicles were seen at the property. He was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his past dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.
The charge relates to allegations that he forwarded confidential UK trade documents to Epstein while serving as a British trade envoy in 2010 and 2011. After nearly 12 hours of questioning, Andrew was released from Aylsham Police station on Thursday evening. Photos taken as he left show him sitting in the back of a car with a pale, stunned expression. Police have not released further details about the arrest or the ongoing investigation.
Modern Royals and Police Encounters
No member of the current British royal family has ever been arrested before this incident. Several royals have faced police investigations or minor convictions, but none resulted in detention.
- In 2019, Prince Philip was involved in a car crash in Sandringham that injured another driver. Police investigated but made no arrest. Philip later surrendered his driving licence voluntarily.
- Princess Anne was fined £400 in 2001 for speeding. In 2002 she pleaded guilty under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her dog bit two children. She paid a £500 fine plus compensation. These were not arrests.
- Zara Tindall, Princess Anne’s daughter, has had multiple speeding convictions and a six-month driving ban in 2009 after accumulating too many points. Again, no arrest occurred.
Looking Back Further in History
The last confirmed arrest of a senior British royal before Andrew dates back centuries, long before the modern monarchy took shape.
Examples include:
- King Charles I, captured in 1646 during the English Civil Wars, held in custody, tried, and executed in 1649.
- Mary Queen of Scots, imprisoned in 1567, held for 19 years in England, tried for treason, and beheaded in 1587.
- Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I), imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1554 on suspicion of treason, held for two months before release.
- Lady Jane Grey, proclaimed queen for nine days in 1553, imprisoned in the Tower, and beheaded in 1554 at age 16.
- Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, arrested in 1542 on charges of adultery and treason, imprisoned in the Tower, and beheaded at age 20.
- Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII, arrested in 1536 on charges of adultery, incest, and treason, imprisoned in the Tower, and beheaded.
It is worth noting that all of them, other than Elizabeth I, were beheaded.
These cases happened during times of civil war, religious conflict, or power struggles. None occurred in the era of constitutional monarchy that began after 1688.
Andrew’s arrest marks an unprecedented moment in modern British history. He has always denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. He reached an out-of-court settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2022 that included no admission of liability or apology.
The investigation continues, with no charges filed yet. The case has drawn international attention because of Andrew’s former royal status and his long association with Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
