Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested at 08:00 on Thursday, according to Thames Valley Police. The arrest is connected to information from the Epstein file release in January, specifically emails between Andrew and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
As reported by the BBC, one email from November 2010 shows Andrew forwarding country reports to Epstein, who had been convicted of sex offences. Further emails reveal Andrew sharing a confidential briefing on investment opportunities in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and suggesting Epstein invest in a private equity firm.
Thames Valley Police will have gone to the government and the palace for additional emails to build a case. The palace stated it would "support" the investigation, and the National Crime Agency is assisting with requests for unredacted documents from the FBI or the US Department of Justice.
Investigation Details
Detectives may have seen more evidence beyond the emails released in January. Andrew has only been arrested and has not been charged. He has denied any wrongdoing related to his relationship with Epstein.
This arrest is not related to allegations from Virginia Giuffre, who reached an out-of-court financial settlement with Andrew in 2022. Typically, individuals arrested for white-collar crime are held for a few hours and then released on police bail.
Next Steps
Once detectives have conducted their searches and questioned Andrew, they will decide if there is sufficient evidence to charge him. This decision could take weeks and will involve consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.
