SANDRINGHAM, England — British police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, marking a historic escalation in the scandal over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Driving the news: The BBC reports that the arrest took place at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, where the former prince has resided since being evicted from his Windsor mansion.

• The Scene: Witnesses reported six unmarked police cars and eight plain-clothed officers arriving at the estate earlier Thursday morning.
• The Allegations: Thames Valley Police are investigating claims that Mountbatten-Windsor leaked confidential government trade files to Epstein in 2010 while serving as a UK trade envoy.

Why it matters: The arrest follows a massive trove of documents released by the U.S. government this year.

• Emails within the files reportedly show the 65-year-old forwarding official reports on Vietnam and Singapore to the late sex offender.
• Under UK rules, trade envoys are strictly prohibited from sharing sensitive commercial or diplomatic data.

The backdrop: Mountbatten-Windsor, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, was stripped of his “Prince” title by King Charles in October 2025.

• He has faced years of scrutiny over his friendship with Epstein, which he has called a “regret.”
• Despite the arrest, he “has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein,” according to previous statements.

What they’re saying: Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently signaled that the former prince should cooperate fully with ongoing investigations, stating that “anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information.”

The bottom line: Once a core member of the “Firm,” Mountbatten-Windsor is now the first immediate relative of a sitting British monarch to be arrested in modern history.