Former Prince Andrew arrested over suspected misconduct in public office revealed in Epstein files

London — The former Prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested Thursday for suspected misconduct in public office after revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein files. King Charles III's younger brother was arrested on his 66th birthday, about two weeks after an anti-royal organization called for police to investigate documents indicating that Andrew shared confidential government information with the late American sex offender when the royal worked as a British trade envoy.

The Thames Valley Police force confirmed just over a week ago that it was assessing claims against Mountbatten-Windsor that emerged in the latest release of Epstein files by the U.S. Justice Department to determine whether a formal investigation was warranted. 

In a statement on Thursday, the Thames Valley Police confirmed that, "as part of the investigation, we have today (19/2) 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." It said the man, who it did not name in line with police procedures, "remains in police custody at this time."

Shortly after 8 a.m. local time (3 a.m. Eastern), six unmarked police vehicles were seen arriving at Wood Farm, Andrew's new residence on King Charles' Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England. The Reuters news agency said later that police were also seen Thursday at Royal Lodge, Mountbatten-Windsor's former residence on the royal family's Windsor estate near London.

If Andrew is eventually charged with misconduct in public office, the offense carries a maximum possible sentence of life in prison in Britain.

"This is the king's brother who has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office — the first senior royal to ever be arrested," Roya Nikkhah, the royal editor of Britain's Sunday Times newspaper, told "CBS Mornings," stressing that it was "quite a moment" in history.  

King Charles says "the law must take its course"

King Charles, in a statement released Thursday, said he had "learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew
Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office."

"What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course," the king said, adding that he would not be commenting further amid the investigation into his brother, and that the rest of the royal family would "continue in our duty and
service to you all."

In an interview earlier Thursday with CBS News' partner network BBC News, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, "nobody is above law" when he was asked about Mountbatten-Windsor.

"I think that's a matter for the police, they will conduct their own investigations, but one of the core principles in our system is that everybody is equal under the law and nobody is above the law," Starmer said. 

Last week, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on behalf of the king that the royal family would cooperate if police came asking questions about Mountbatten-Windsor.  

"The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor's conduct," a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "While the specific claims in question are for Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect."

CBS News has sought comment from Mountbatten-Windsor's representatives repeatedly since the Epstein files first revealed his close ties with Epstein. He did not respond, but in the past had always denied any wrongdoing.

Virginia Giuffre's family reacts to Andrew's arrest

King Charles stripped his brother of his royal titles last year amid intense scrutiny over Andrew's friendship with Epstein and accusations made by American Virginia Giuffre that she was trafficked to engage in sex with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was underage.

Mountbatten-Windsor denied those allegations, but reached a settlement with Giuffre in 2022, paying her around $16 million, according to British media reports. Giuffre died by suicide last year.

"At last, today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty," Giuffre's siblings said in a statement shared with CBS News on Thursday. "On behalf of our sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, we extend our gratitude to the U.K.'s Thames Valley Police for their investigation, and the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you."

Mountbatten-Windsor had previously suggested that an undated photo showing him with Giuffre and close Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell could have been faked, and Maxwell made the same claim in a jailhouse interview in early 2023, but among the documents released by the U.S. government this year was a draft email that appears to show Maxwell confirming its authenticity.

In the message, sent by "G Maxwell" to Epstein in 2015, she wrote: "In 2001 I was in London when [name redacted] met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew. A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family."

Giuffre had claimed that she was forced to have sex with Andrew in Florida when she was 17 years old, after being trafficked to the encounter by Maxwell.

What is in the Epstein files about Andrew?

While earlier allegations about Andrew's actions in the Epstein files largely centered around the former prince's alleged encounters with young women in conjunction with Epstein, the anti-monarchy group Republic called earlier this month for a formal investigation over his actions as a British trade official. 

Emails among the millions of documents released by the U.S. Justice Department on Jan. 30 appear to show the former prince passed on confidential reports on his visits as an official British trade envoy to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam, including details of investment opportunities.

One email thread shows that after he traveled to Asia, on Nov. 30, 2010, Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded official reports on his visits, sent to him by his then-special adviser Amit Patel, to Epstein, just minutes after he received them. There was no message from the then-prince to Epstein accompanying the forwarded message.

Another email exchange between the men the following month appears to show Mountbatten-Windsor sharing files he describes as "a confidential brief" on potential investment opportunities in southern Afghanistan, where British forces were based at the time.

Then-Prince Andrew said he was sharing the documents with Epstein to seek his "comments, views or ideas as to whom I could also usefully show this to attract some interest" in the opportunities described in the brief.

The allegations echoed similar revelations from the latest tranche of Epstein files that suggest former British Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson shared confidential government information with the late American financier. The London Metropolitan Police confirmed an investigation into his actions earlier this month.

The decision by Starmer to tap Mandelson for the key diplomatic post brought huge pressure on the U.K. leader to resign, though following the resignation of his chief of staff, Starmer appeared likely to hang onto his job, at least for the time being.