February 19, 2026 | 07:27 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - British police reportedly arrested former Prince Andrew, or Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on his 66th birthday on Thursday, February 19, 2026, following weeks of revelations regarding his connection with Jeffrey Epstein.
The Thames Valley Police stated, as reported by NBC News, that they arrested a man in his 60s for alleged public office violations, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in England. The police, covering the southern England region where Andrew once resided, did not name him, following standard legal practice.
A statement released by the Thames Valley Police, as reported by the BBC, read: "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. The man remains in police custody at this time."
"We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time," said Assistant Chief Police Oliver Wright. "Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office."
Last week, the Thames Valley Police, serving the area west of London, said they were investigating claims that former Prince Andrew sent confidential trade reports to Epstein during his tenure as the UK's international trade envoy. Now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles had his royal title stripped due to his friendship with the late sex offender.
He acknowledged his relationship with Epstein and settled a lawsuit with one of Epstein's underage victims. However, he has always denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) reached an agreement with Epstein's survivors to protect their identities following a partial deletion of information.
Police said they were conducting searches at two addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. Andrew lived at the Royal Lodge Windsor in Berkshire until earlier this month; his new home at Sandringham Estate is in Norfolk.
Earlier, news photographers captured unmarked police cars arriving at Andrew's home in Sandringham.
Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing related to his connection with Epstein, saying he regrets the friendship. This ends the mounting pressure on Andrew, the brother of King Charles III and the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, over his long-standing friendship with Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender and financial tycoon.
It is extremely rare for senior members of the royal family to be arrested. In 2002, Princess Anne, the king's sister, was convicted under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her English bull terrier, Dotty, bit two children while walking in Windsor Park. At the time, the British media said it was the first case of a royal family member being convicted of a criminal offense.
Read: UN Experts: Epstein Abuses May Qualify as 'Crimes Against Humanity'
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