What we covered
• Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a younger brother of King Charles III, has been released from custody and remains under investigation following his arrest today on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to UK police.
• King Charles III has expressed his “deepest concern” about the case and stressed that “the law must take its course.” Andrew, who spent a decade as UK trade envoy, is the first senior British royal to be arrested in nearly 400 years.
• Police previously said they were reviewing claims that Andrew shared sensitive information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as envoy.
• The former prince has denied all accusations against him and insisted he never witnessed or suspected any of the behavior of which the late Epstein is accused. He has not commented publicly on these more recent allegations of misconduct in public office.
Our live coverage has ended. Catch up on the headlines here:
Family of Virginia Giuffre calls Mountbatten-Windsor arrest “a step in the right direction”
Following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Virginia Giuffre’s family said they “felt sad that she’s not here to celebrate this with us and with her survivor sisters.”
“I think it’s a lot of mixed emotions,” Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother, told CNN’s Jake Tapper tonight.
Giuffre died by suicide last year. She had repeatedly claimed that she was forced to have sex with the then-prince while underage.
Mountbatten-Windsor has long denied those claims. He was arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” Roberts said of the arrest.
Roberts’ wife Amanda told Tapper she is hopeful that King Charles III’s promise of “wholehearted support and cooperation” with the authorities is sincere. She noted that his vow “is such a stark contrast to what we’re seeing from our own president.”
“Where is the accountability here?” she asked. “I would hope that they start to take note at what’s going on in other countries.”
Giuffre’s brother added that “not enough has been done” in the US when it comes to holding those tied with Epstein accountable.
“It does stink of a cover-up,” he said. “Let’s not forget there’s another person, Peter Mandelson, in the UK, that also has an open investigation… Why isn’t that same type of authority being taking place here?”
Here’s what you should know about former Prince Andrew’s arrest
On his 66th birthday, police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to police.
The former prince — who is the first senior British royal to be arrested in almost 400 years — has been under increased scrutiny since the US government released documents detailing his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Police did not specifically outline what led to today’s arrest.
The former prince has denied all accusations against him and insisted he never witnessed or suspected any of the behavior of which the late Epstein is accused. He has not commented publicly on these more recent allegations of misconduct in public office.
Here’s what you should know:
- Release from custody: Andrew was pictured leaving a police station in Norfolk tonight, and police confirmed he has been released from custody but remains under investigation.
- The investigation: Multiple British police agencies are involved in the probe. Investigators today searched Andrew’s former home of Royal Lodge in Windsor, as well as his residence in Sandringham. And after the former prince’s arrest, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown submitted a memorandum to relevant police forces regarding the Epstein files.
- About the allegation: In England, misconduct in public office is a common law offense that concerns “serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held,” according to the Crown Prosecution Service. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Police previously said they were reviewing claims that Andrew shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy.
- Word from the palace: After learning of his younger brother’s arrest, King Charles III stressed that “the law must take its course” and reiterated that the authorities have his “wholehearted support and co-operation.” The Prince and Princess of Wales said they support the King’s statement. Buckingham Palace was not given prior warning of his arrest, a royal source told CNN. Other royals moved ahead with public engagements today just hours after their relative’s arrest.
- Reactions: Virginia Giuffre’s family said in a statement that “our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty.” Giuffre, who died by suicide in 2025, repeatedly claimed that she was forced to have sex with the then-prince while underage. Spencer T. Kuvin, an attorney for Epstein’s victims, said the arrest may “restore some faith for those who believed justice was unreachable.” President Donald Trump called the episode a “shame” for Britain’s royal family without mentioning Epstein. A growing number of US lawmakers have also spoken out on the matter.
CNN’s Christian Edwards, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, James Frater, Lauren Kent, Billy Stockwell, Charlotte Reck, Max Foster, Sophie Tanno, Christian Edwards, Rebekah Riess, Niamh Kennedy and Issy Ronald contributed reporting.
Here's how some Britons are reacting to former Prince Andrew's arrest
UK citizens within the country and beyond are reacting to today’s arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who is being investigated on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to police.
“I think that it’s been a long time coming,” one UK citizen, Grace, told CNN outside Buckingham Palace. “I think that it’s good that something’s finally happening.”
“If you’ve done something wrong, you should be held accountable for it,” she said.
David, another citizen, told CNN the former prince’s arrest was “not unexpected.”
Across the Atlantic, UK residents visiting New York also had some thoughts on the arrest.
Kate, another Briton visiting New York, shared that sentiment, saying: “About time. So I think, as the king said, you know, the law needs to do its job now.”
Andrew has yet to comment publicly on his arrest. Read more background here.
In photos: Royals carry out public engagements after former Prince Andrew arrested by police
King Charles III, Queen Camilla and several other British royal family members went ahead with public duties Thursday, hours after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by British police.
The Queen attended a musical concert in central London, while Charles was photographed at London Fashion Week. The king said earlier that he learned “with the deepest concern” of the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, his younger brother, and added that “the law must take its course.”
Police chiefs alerted Home Office before arresting Prince Andrew
Police chiefs in Britain notified the country’s interior ministry, known as the Home Office, before arresting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor “in line with routine practice”
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said it “alerted operational colleagues within the Home Office of the arrest”.
“This gave 30 minutes’ notice before Thames Valley Police made the arrest,” the NPCC said in a statement Thursday.
The former Prince Andrew was released from police custody under investigation late Thursday, after he became the first senior British royal in modern history to be arrested by police. He was arrested earlier over suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all accusations against him. He has not commented publicly on these more recent allegations of misconduct in public office.
Former officer lays out booking process that Andrew likely went through
After his arrest, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was likely brought into the police station and “booked in exactly as normal as every detainee is,” retired London Metropolitan Police officer Graham Wettone told CNN’s Isa Soares.
Andrew would have been brought before a custody officer to be informed of his legal rights and reasons why he had been detained, Wettone said.
The former prince would then be searched and items like a phone, keys or money would be taken.
As a detainee, Andrew would have remained in the cell until he was interviewed, or until his legal representative showed up to have a consultation with him in private. Once investigating officers were ready to interview, he would be taken out of the cell, brought into an interview room and interviewed while being video recorded, Wettone said.
Trump calls Andrew’s arrest a “shame” without mentioning Epstein
President Donald Trump voiced chagrin at the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, calling the episode a “shame” for Britain’s royal family.
But pressed on whether similar arrests would eventually occur in the United States, Trump demurred and insisted he’d been cleared of any wrongdoing when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein.
“I’m the expert in a way, because I’ve been totally exonerated,” Trump said. “I can actually speak about it very nicely.”
Referring to Andrew’s arrest, Trump said, “I think it’s a shame. I think it’s very sad. I think it’s so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad to me. It’s a very sad thing when I see that.”
Trump, who has long held an affinity for Britain’s royals, lamented how Andrew’s predicament would affect his brother, King Charles III.
“It’s a very sad thing to see it and to see what’s going on with his brother, who’s obviously coming to our country very soon, and he’s a fantastic man, the king,” Trump said. Charles is said to be planning a state visit to the US, likely in April.
The former prince has denied all accusations against him and insisted he never witnessed or suspected any of the behavior of which Epstein is accused.
Trump, who has long denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein, has tried to downplay the Epstein matter, saying it’s time for Americans to move on.
On Thursday, he suggested the entire issue was concocted to damage him politically.
“It’s really interesting, because nobody used to speak about Epstein when he was alive, but now they speak, but I’m the one that can talk about it, because I’ve been totally exonerated,” he said. “I did nothing. In fact, the opposite — he was against me, he was fighting me in the election, which I just found out throughout the last 3 million pages of documents.”
Former Prince Andrew released "under investigation" following arrest
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was released “under investigation” late Thursday, hours after the former prince and brother of King Charles III was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Officers were searching Wood Farm, Andrew’s home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Separately, authorities were also searching Royal Lodge, Andrew’s former residence in Windsor.
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all accusations against him. He has not commented publicly on these more recent allegations of misconduct in public office.
Former Prince Andrew pictured leaving police station after his arrest following Epstein files revelations
The former Prince Andrew was photographed leaving a police station in Norfolk, eastern England, Thursday evening local time, after he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Police did not say what led to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, but he spent a decade as a UK trade envoy. The younger brother of King Charles III, Andrew is the first senior British royal in modern history to be arrested.
British authorities previously said they were reviewing claims that Andrew shared sensitive information with the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure – when he was representing the UK government.
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all accusations against him. He has not commented publicly on these more recent allegations of misconduct in public office.
The picture of his departure from the police station was taken by Reuters.
British journalist who interviewed former Prince Andrew “stunned” by arrest
A British journalist told CNN that the arrest of the former Prince Andrew is “unprecedented,” after he became the first senior royal to be apprehended by police in modern history.
Emily Maitlis, the reporter who pressed the former prince about the depth of his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a revelatory 2019 TV interview, said, “I’m absolutely stunned by what we’re seeing today.
Maitlis asked Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor why he maintained his relationship with Epstein, including after September 2009, when Epstein was released from prison having pled guilty to child prostitution charges, in a seismic BBC interview several years ago.
Andrew has not commented publicly on his arrest today on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has denied all previous accusations against him and insisted he never witnessed or suspected any of the behavior of which Epstein is accused.
Soon after Andrew’s arrest Thursday, King Charles III, his brother, emphasized “the law must take its course.”
Just in October, Charles stripped his brother of his title as prince and cast him out of the Windsor estate, in what Maitlis cast as a “seminal moment.”
“King Charles was indicating six months ago that no one is above the law,” she added.
Andrew will likely be bailed while investigators gather evidence, British solicitor says
The complexity of the case involving the former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — and the amount of potential evidence, including the Epstein files and any witnesses — suggest that a charging decision within Andrew’s initial custody period is unlikely, British solicitor Chloe Jay told CNN’s Zain Asher.
In the UK, arrests can be made with reasonable suspicion of an offense, and many arrests do not lead to prosecution, she explained.
Andrew is likely to be questioned as part of his time in custody, and he could put forward “things that he would like the police to look at,” Jay said, including potential witnesses or explanations, which the police then have a duty to explore as evidence.
In photos: British police search Royal Lodge
Police in the UK began searching two royal addresses Thursday, after they arrested the country’s former Prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Officers were seen patrolling the gates of Royal Lodge, Andrew’s former residence in Windsor, early today local time. Separately, authorities were also searching Wood Farm, his home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, in eastern England.
Police have not publicly said what led to the arrest, but Andrew held post as UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. The royal was in contact with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure, according to documents published by the US Department of Justice last month.
See as King Charles refuses to answers reporters' questions on brother's arrest
King Charles shrugged off questions from journalists about his brother as he made a public appearance at London Fashion Week on Thursday afternoon, just hours after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested at his home in Sandringham.
A large crowd gathered outside the venue for London Fashion Week’s opening show where the King was already scheduled to put in an appearance.
A CNN team filmed as King Charles stepped out of his vehicle and declined to respond to questions shouted by reporters.
His appearance proved the King was carrying on with his planned schedule, despite this morning’s developments, which saw plain clothes police officers arrest Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of “public misconduct,” a moment many are viewing as a watershed moment for the Royal Family.
Once inside the venue, King Charles was seen enjoying the show with a front-row seat, showing no visible signs of the dramatic events that had rocked his family.
Earlier, the King put out a statement addressing the arrest of Mountbatten-Windsor, saying he learned about it “with the deepest concern” and stressed that “the law must take its course.”
Attorney for Epstein's victims says arrest may "restore faith for those who believed justice was unreachable"
Spencer T. Kuvin, an attorney for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, said Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest may “restore some faith for those who believed justice was unreachable.”
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Thames Valley Police said earlier today. The force did not say what led to the arrest but had previously said it is assessing whether the former prince shared confidential material with Epstein during his time as UK trade envoy.
“Victims of abuse often face disbelief and backlash,” said Kuvin, adding that the legal process must remain “centered on survivors’ dignity regardless of the fame, power or wealth of a potential perpetrator.”
The former prince has not commented publicly on the more recent allegations of misconduct in public office that emerged after the latest DOJ releases. He has denied any accusations against him and insisted he never witnessed or suspected any of the behavior of which Epstein is accused.
Andrew is the first senior British royal to be arrested since Charles I — almost 400 years ago
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is believed to be the first senior British royal to be arrested since King Charles I, the monarch who led the Royalists to defeat at the hands of the Parliamentarians in England’s civil wars in the mid-17th century.
After the First Civil War ended, Charles I was placed under house arrest in 1647 by Oliver Cromwell, the leader of the Parliamentarians, at Hampton Court Palace in London. Charles famously escaped, but was soon recaptured.
He spent more than a year as a prisoner on the Isle of Wight, off England’s southern coast, as the two sides tried — and failed — to reach a political settlement.
After the brief Second Civil War, the Parliamentarians put Charles on trial in 1649 for treason against England, accusing him of pursuing his personal interest above the “liberty, justice, and peace of the people of this nation.” Charles was found guilty and executed, marking the first time a reigning monarch had been tried and executed by his subjects.
England lived without a monarch for the next 11 years, before inviting Charles II — Charles I’s son — back from France to restore the Stuart throne.
Number of US lawmakers speak out on Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest
A growing number of US lawmakers have spoken out about the arrest of the UK’s former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor this morning.
“Great Britain is holding its powerful and privileged to account. The United States of America should do the same,” Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss from Massachusetts told CNN’s Kate Bolduan.
His colleague from Massachusetts, Rep. Stephen Lynch, a Democrat and member of the House Oversight Committee, told CNN today’s arrest offers “a great contrast.”
“Look what the British government is doing in light of the evidence, and look what the United States government is doing. Nothing,” Lynch told CNN’s John Berman. “So it is refreshing that that the British government is coming forward … and the king is actually saying, ‘We need to follow the law here.’ I wish our government were doing the same.”
Ro Khana, a Democratic congressman who’s strongly pushed for the Epstein files release, shared a post on X this morning, in which he said that he found the “moral clarity” in British society’s response to the Epstein case “inspiring.”
“The British have taken this scandal more seriously than we have,” the post reads. “There is an appreciation in America, among the survivors, me and others in Congress for how the British people are handling this.”
Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also pointed out the relative lack of accountability in the United States for those with ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
“The UK has arrested Andrew because of the Epstein files and over here the President signed an EO protecting cancer causing Glyphosate in our foods and we have zero Epstein related arrest and investigations since release of the files,” she wrote in a post on X this morning.
As a reminder: The former prince has denied all accusations against him and insisted he never witnessed or suspected any of the behavior of which Epstein is accused. He has not commented publicly on these more recent allegations of misconduct in public office.
What are police doing and where are they searching?
British police typically do not give out the names of people they arrest, or provide details of the addresses they search.
And so shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday morning, Thames Valley Police said they had arrested a man in his 60s from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and were carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
That man was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince who turned 66 today.
The address in Berkshire, a county west of London, was Royal Lodge at Windsor. The second address was Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, on England’s eastern fringe.
We have since seen police carrying out searches at both Royal Lodge, which had been Mountbatten-Windsor’s home since 2003, and Wood Farm, where he moved earlier this month after being evicted from Windsor by his older brother, King Charles III.
With an investigation ongoing, police are releasing precious little other information about the royal’s arrest. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by Thames Valley Police, which covers Berkshire, even though his arrest was made in Sandringham, which is covered by the Norfolk Constabulary. Neither police force would tell CNN whether Andrew was being held in custody in Norfolk or the Thames Valley district.
A police spokesperson at Royal Lodge told Britain’s PA Media today that searches of the royal’s home were ongoing.
Police can hold Mountbatten-Windsor in custody for 24 hours before they must charge him with a crime or release him. If they apply for extensions, they can hold him for up to 96 hours. The former prince has previously denied all accusations against him; he has not commented publicly on these more recent allegations of misconduct in public office.
Speaking prior to Andrew's arrest, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said "nobody is above the law"
“Nobody is above the law.” Those were the unequivocal words from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday morning, speaking before the news of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest.
“In this particular case, we’re talking about [Jeffrey] Epstein, but there are plenty of other cases… anybody who’s got information relating to any aspect of violence against women and girls has, in my view, a duty to come forward, whoever they are,” the prime minister added.
Asked whether Mountbatten-Windsor should voluntarily come forward to the police, Starmer was less definitive, saying: “I think that’s a matter for the police. They will conduct their own investigations.”
The BBC interview was conducted early on Thursday morning – hours before Thames Valley Police announced that they had arrested a man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Andrew's arrest raises hard questions for Trump about accountability in the US
When Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles last year, President Donald Trump absorbed the entire situation with a degree of chagrin.
“I feel very badly. It’s a terrible thing that’s happened to the family,” Trump said, without mentioning why King Charles III made the decision in the first place: his brother’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Instead, Trump allowed his own affinity for the British royal family — and the House of Windsor in particular — guide his response.
“That’s been a tragic situation. It’s too bad,” he said. “I feel badly for the family.”
Trump has yet to weigh in on Andrew’s arrest Thursday. But the arrest only seemed to underscore an uncomfortable reality for the president: Every time someone powerful appears to be held accountable for their role and involvement with Epstein overseas, it raises hard questions about why that isn’t happening in the United States.
Those are questions Trump has refused to answer for. He’s bristled at even the mention of Epstein, and has said the country needs to move on. When his attorney general was asked those questions in congressional testimony last week, she lashed out with personal attacks.
Trump praised Pam Bondi’s appearance, and claimed people “only cared about (Epstein) when they thought he could create Political Harm to a very popular President.”
But when Andrew — the brother of the monarch — is arrested in relation to his relationship with Epstein, it would seem to make those arguments harder and harder to make.
