Officers from Thames Valley Police detained the former royal after assessing allegations that he shared sensitive trade-related information with Epstein, as newly released files intensify scrutiny.
BY PC Bureau
February 19, 2026: Former British royal Prince Andrew has been arrested at his temporary residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to British media reports and law enforcement statements. The arrest marks a dramatic escalation in long-running scrutiny over his association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In an official statement issued Thursday, Thames Valley Police confirmed that officers had detained “a man in his sixties” following what they described as a “thorough assessment” of allegations. While police did not publicly identify the suspect—consistent with UK legal practice—multiple British outlets, including BBC, reported that the individual in custody was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as the Duke of York.
Investigation centers on alleged document sharing
According to investigators, the probe focuses on claims that Andrew may have shared confidential or sensitive trade-related reports with Epstein in 2010, during a period when Epstein had already been convicted of sex crimes in the United States. Authorities said they are now formally examining whether those actions could constitute misconduct in public office.
“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,” police said. “It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to examine this alleged offence.”
Law enforcement sources emphasized that the arrest does not imply guilt, and the investigation remains ongoing.
BREAKING: Former Prince Andrew ARRESTED on his 66th birthday!
Thames Valley Police nabbed him for suspected misconduct in public office after Epstein files showed he sent confidential UK trade reports to Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.
Life imprisonment possible?! pic.twitter.com/dvv99ZLXN9— know the Unknown (@imurpartha) February 19, 2026
Police presence at Sandringham
Earlier Thursday morning, six unmarked police vehicles and approximately eight plainclothes officers were seen arriving at Wood Farm, a secluded residence within the Sandringham Estate where Andrew has been staying. The operation was conducted discreetly but swiftly, according to eyewitness accounts cited by Reuters.
Notably, the arrest occurred on Andrew’s 66th birthday, adding symbolic weight to what is already one of the most consequential developments in his long and controversial public life.
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Renewed scrutiny after Epstein files release
The arrest follows renewed public and legal scrutiny after millions of previously unreleased emails, photographs, and documents—collectively referred to as the “Epstein Files”—were made public in recent weeks. The trove reportedly contains communications and records involving several high-profile figures, including Andrew, intensifying pressure on British authorities to revisit longstanding questions.
Andrew’s association with Epstein has cast a shadow over the royal family for years. Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, and his network of powerful acquaintances has remained under intense investigation ever since.
Fall from royal duties and public life
Andrew, once a senior working member of the British royal family, withdrew from public duties in 2019 amid mounting controversy over his relationship with Epstein. He later relinquished his military titles and royal patronages and has since lived largely out of the public eye.
Buckingham Palace has not yet issued an official statement regarding the arrest.
The investigation is expected to continue in the coming weeks as authorities review newly surfaced evidence and determine whether formal charges will be filed.
