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Britain’s Prince Andrew speaks to the media during Sunday service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park, Britain following the death on Friday of his father Prince Philip aged 99, April 11, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
SANDRINGHAM:
Britain’s royal family was in crisis on Thursday as former Prince Andrew was in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct for his links to the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The arrest of a member of the royal family is unprecedented in Britain’s modern era, and within hours King Charles III issued a rare personally signed statement insisting that “the law must take its course”.
It was a humiliating new blow for the ousted prince – who celebrated his 66th birthday on Thursday and was stripped of his titles last year.
But the news was welcomed on the streets of London.
“It’s good he’s been arrested,” data analyst Jennifer Tiso, 39, told AFP. “I don’t think that just because you are related to the royal family, you should be above the law.”
Police said they also searched two properties, with the BBC reporting that one was Andrew’s former home, Royal Lodge, on the monarchy’s Windsor estate west of London.
The other was his residence since this month at the king’s private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, where his arrest took place, according to British media.
Widely published images showed several unmarked cars believed to be police cars arriving there early Thursday.
Thames Valley Police said in a statement that it had arrested “a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” without naming the suspect, as is common practice in Britain.
“The man remains in police custody at this time,” it added.
Andrew’s ties to Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender awaiting trial on human trafficking charges when he died in a US prison in 2019, caused the former royal’s spectacular years-long downfall.
‘Concern’
Andrew’s arrest follows fresh revelations last week that the ex-prince appeared to have sent Epstein potentially confidential documents during his time as British trade envoy.
In a November 2010 email seen by AFP, Andrew appeared to share reports on several Asian countries with the US financier after an official visit to the region.
The former royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, also allegedly sent him details of the trip – on which he was accompanied by Epstein’s business associates – along with investment opportunities months later.
Last year, Charles stripped his brother of his titles and ordered him to leave his Windsor mansion – although he still remains eighth in line to the British throne.
In his statement on Thursday, the king reiterated that he had heard of the latest allegations “with the deepest concern” and that the police have Buckingham Palace’s “full and wholehearted support and cooperation”.
“Let me be clear: the law must take its course,” he added.
In an apparent attempt to give off an air of business-as-usual, Charles carried out several public duties on Thursday, including attending an event to open London Fashion Week.
“How are you feeling after your brother’s arrest?” a reporter shouted at least twice when he arrived. It was unclear whether the king heard the question. He didn’t answer.
Royal commentator Katie Nicholl told Sky News: “Let’s not do anything about it. This is a moment of crisis for the monarchy, possibly the biggest crisis since the (1936) abdication. Nobody quite knows how it’s going to play out.”
The scandal has gathered momentum since one of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Giuffre, claimed in her posthumous memoir last year that she had been trafficked into having sex with Andrew when she was a teenager.
The Giuffre family welcomed Andrew’s arrest on Thursday, saying “our broken hearts have been lifted by the news”, adding that he was “never a prince”.
‘Strong Message’
Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Epstein.
He settled a US civil lawsuit in 2022 brought by Giuffre, while not admitting liability.
The ex-prince served as British trade envoy for a decade from 2001.
Official guidance states that trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive commercial or political information related to their official visits, the BBC has said.
Misconduct in public office carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
It remained unclear where Andrew was being held. Under British law, he can be held for 24 hours without charge, after which police must ask the courts to extend the detention.
At least nine UK police forces have confirmed they are assessing claims arising from the Epstein cases, many related to Andrew.
It follows the US Department of Justice’s recent release of millions of files from the investigation into the US financier.
