Former Prince Andrew has been arrested in the United Kingdom on suspicion of misconduct in public office, British police confirmed on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The arrest, linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case, marks a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of the Duke of York’s associations.
Authorities initially reported the arrest of a man in his 60s, stating he was being held under suspicion of misconduct in a public office. The Thames Valley Police later confirmed the individual was Prince Andrew, who recently vacated his residence at Royal Lodge. Police stated searches were conducted at properties in Berkshire, and Norfolk.
The investigation stems from information suggesting Prince Andrew may have passed potentially confidential information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his time as the UK’s special representative for international trade, a role he held from 2001 to 2011. Police had been evaluating this information to determine if a criminal investigation was warranted.
According to reports from the BBC, the arrested man was identified as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday. Several British and international news outlets echoed that report. Prince Andrew has faced numerous investigations regarding his ties to Epstein but has consistently denied any wrongdoing and had not previously been arrested in connection with the case.
Recent documents that surfaced on February 11, 2026, appeared to show Prince Andrew transmitting confidential information to Epstein. Prosecutors indicated they were in contact with police regarding these suspicions. A December 24, 2010, email allegedly sent by the former prince to the financier contained “a confidential report” outlining investment opportunities in Afghanistan. Other documents suggest further reports on perform trips to China, Singapore, and Vietnam were also shared in 2010.
Following his eviction from Royal Lodge due to unpaid rent, Prince Andrew moved to Wood Farm in an attempt to distance himself from the Epstein scandal. Images circulating in British tabloids on Thursday showed a convoy of vehicles near Wood Farm, reportedly consisting of eight plainclothes officers who arrived around 8:00 GMT to execute the arrest.
The arrest comes after King Charles III stripped his brother of all royal titles and honors last year in the wake of the Epstein allegations. Despite this, Prince Andrew remains eighth in line to the British throne.
Allegations against Prince Andrew also include claims made by Virginia Giuffre, who alleged in 2014 that she was trafficked to the UK by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell as a minor and forced to have sexual relations with the former prince – claims he has consistently denied. Additional accusations have surfaced through lawyers representing other women, alleging Epstein facilitated encounters with the Duke of York in England and Florida.
King Charles III released a statement on Thursday stating, “justice must follow its course.” The development underscores the continued fallout from the Epstein scandal and its impact on the British royal family.
Misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
CP (efe, afp, dpa, BBC)
