Former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, February 19, 2025, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This arrest is part of a broader investigation linked to his relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew’s detention marks a historic moment, as he becomes the first senior British royal in modern history to be taken into police custody.
Born in 1960, Andrew is the second child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. As the younger brother of Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, Andrew pursued a career in the military, serving in the Royal Navy for 22 years. He participated in combat operations during the Falklands War in 1982 and later took on the role of Britain’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001.
The current investigation arises from allegations that Andrew passed official government documents to Epstein while serving as a trade envoy. Recent Epstein file releases have prompted scrutiny of Andrew’s actions during that time. Although he has not been formally charged with any crime, his connections to Epstein have caused significant controversy. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
His friendship with Epstein led to his resignation from public duties in November 2019, following a widely criticized interview with the BBC. In this interview, Andrew attempted to clarify his relationship with Epstein but instead faced backlash for his lack of empathy toward Epstein’s victims.
In August 2021, Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, filed a lawsuit against Andrew in a New York court, alleging that he had sexual relations with her when she was a minor. Andrew denied these allegations but lost all military affiliations and charity roles as a result of the lawsuit. He ultimately settled the case for an undisclosed amount, acknowledging Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking without admitting guilt.
The situation further escalated when emails surfaced last year, revealing that Andrew had maintained contact with Epstein longer than he had previously claimed. Following this revelation, his brother, King Charles III, stripped him of his princely title, honors, and residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
As of his recent arrest, Andrew remains eighth in line to the British throne. The investigation into his conduct is ongoing, and the implications of his actions continue to reverberate through the royal family and beyond.
