Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Prince Andrew has been arrested on his 66th birthday following a dramatic early-morning police raid on his residence at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, marking a significant escalation in the United Kingdom’s widening investigations into allegations connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Officers from Thames Valley Police arrived at Wood Farm shortly after 8am, travelling in six unmarked vehicles. Witnesses described a group of plain-clothes officers entering the secluded five-bedroom cottage, formerly associated with Prince Philip. A convoy, including vehicles linked to the prince, was photographed leaving the estate less than an hour later. The arrest was formally confirmed at 10.08am.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police said it had arrested “a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office.” The force confirmed that searches are under way at addresses in both Norfolk and Berkshire, the latter believed to be Royal Lodge in Windsor, where the prince resided for more than two decades before recently relocating to Sandringham.
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said an investigation had been opened following a “thorough assessment” of allegations. “It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation,” he said, acknowledging the “significant public interest” surrounding the case.
The arrest centres on claims that during his tenure as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may have shared confidential information with Epstein. Emails released in documents linked to US investigations appear to show the forwarding of official reports regarding visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore.
One message dated November 2010 was reportedly sent on to Epstein within minutes of receipt from a senior adviser. Another communication on Christmas Eve that year allegedly included briefing material concerning investment opportunities related to reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.
The investigation also revisits longstanding allegations that women were trafficked to the United Kingdom for sexual encounters involving the prince. Among the most prominent accusers was Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was forced to have sexual relations with Andrew on three occasions, including on Epstein’s private Caribbean island, Little St James. Andrew has consistently denied all allegations of sexual misconduct.
Epstein, who was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in 2019, died in prison later that year. His extensive network of associates and flight records have remained under scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic. The “Epstein files,” comprising court documents, depositions and investigative material released by the US Department of Justice, have prompted renewed calls for accountability among individuals named in the documents.
In the UK, at least nine police forces are now assessing material linked to Epstein. The Metropolitan Police has begun “initial inquiries” into allegations involving close protection officers formerly assigned to Andrew. Scotland Yard said it had not identified wrongdoing but confirmed preliminary assessments were under way.
Surrey Police has appealed for witnesses regarding allegations of trafficking and sexual assault said to have taken place in Virginia Water between 1994 and 1996. Other forces, including those in Essex, Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Wiltshire, the West Midlands and Scotland, are examining references to UK airports and locations cited in flight logs and supporting documents. The National Crime Agency has stated it is assisting police forces to ensure a “full and independent assessment” of the released information.
The arrest comes amid intensifying political pressure. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated that “nobody is above the law” and urged anyone with relevant information to cooperate with investigators. He added that he would not obstruct parliamentary debate on the matter if MPs sought one.
Andrew’s legal and public standing has deteriorated sharply since his association with Epstein first came under sustained scrutiny. In 2022, following civil litigation in the United States brought by Giuffre, he stepped back from public duties and was stripped of his honorary military titles and royal patronages. He has maintained his innocence throughout, rejecting claims that he knowingly engaged in wrongdoing or facilitated trafficking.
King Charles III has previously indicated he would support any lawful inquiry into his brother’s conduct. The monarch was scheduled to attend London Fashion Week engagements on the day of the arrest, underscoring the constitutional separation between the Crown and operational policing matters.
Wood Farm, where Andrew had recently taken up residence after leaving Royal Lodge, lies on the periphery of the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, approximately 300 yards down a private drive near Wolferton. The property, long associated with the late Duke of Edinburgh’s retirement, is shielded from public view. At the time of his arrest, Andrew was reportedly accompanied by two police protection officers.
The investigation into misconduct in public office is distinct from, but intertwined with, broader inquiries into alleged sex trafficking and abuse connected to Epstein’s operations. Misconduct in public office is a common law offence in England and Wales that applies to public officials who wilfully neglect to perform their duty or wilfully misconduct themselves to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust.
As detectives continue to examine digital records, travel logs and witness testimony, Andrew remains in police custody at an undisclosed location. Authorities have not confirmed when he will be interviewed formally or whether further arrests are anticipated.
The case represents one of the most consequential legal challenges ever faced by a senior member of the British royal family. With multiple agencies reviewing evidence and mounting political scrutiny, the investigation signals a decisive test of the principle repeatedly invoked by ministers this week: that equality before the law applies without exception.
