Arrested Thursday morning following allegations of "misconduct in the exercise of official duties", ex-Prince Andrew was "released" in the evening pending the outcome of the investigation, according to Windsor regional police. “Justice must take its course,” responded King Charles III in a press release.

Published on: 02/19/2026 - 11:12 Modified on: 02/20/2026 - 11:35

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Ex-Prince Andrew was arrested and placed in police custody for hours on Thursday February 19, following allegations of "failure in the exercise of official duties" linked to the Epstein affair, unprecedented in the modern history of the British monarchy.

The deposed prince, who was held in a police station in Norfolk, close to his new residence in Sandringham (east of England), was finally released in the evening "pending the continuation of the investigation", said in a press release the Windsor police, who had announced his arrest early in the morning.

The BBC broadcast shortly before 7:30 p.m. local time (and GMT) a photo of the prince in the back of a car, haggard and staring, leaving the police station where he had been questioned.

The police also clarified that the searches they had announced in the morning in two residences linked to Andrew were completed for one but still in progress for the other. The residences targeted were those of Sandringham and his previous residence of Royal Lodge, Windsor.

Andrew's arrest – on his 66th birthday – is a bolt from the blue for the royal family, poisoned for years by the Epstein affair and the links that the American pedophile had with Andrew.

To read Arrest of ex-Prince Andrew: the epilogue to a long and sordid soap opera?

In a rare statement shortly after the arrest, King Charles III, Andrew's older brother, reacted by affirming that "justice must take its course", while emphasizing his "deepest concern".

He then went as planned to a fashion show for the opening of London Fashion Week and appeared smiling.

US President Donald Trump said the arrest was “very sad”.

"I think it's a shame. I think it's very sad. I think it's so bad for the royal family," the US president told reporters aboard his plane.

Crown Prince William and his wife Kate remained discreet, simply letting it be known that they “supported” the king’s position.

In early February, Thames Valley Police said they were "assessing" allegations that Andrew had passed potentially confidential information to American financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including reports of trips to Asia made when Andrew was the United Kingdom's special envoy for Trade from 2001 to 2011.

"Untouchables"

Several people interviewed by AFP in London welcomed this arrest with joy on Thursday, a reflection of the hostility of public opinion towards the man who remains eighth in the order of succession to the throne.

“I thought they (the royal family, editor’s note) were untouchable, it’s good to know that they are not above the law, it shows that justice works,” rejoiced Maggie Yeo, a 59-year-old retiree.

Harvey Jackson, 21, met in a pub near Sandringham, said he was "not surprised": "Wherever he went he was going to get in trouble."

In recent days, the police had indicated that they were examining documents contained in the latest delivery of the Epstein files, published on January 30 by the US Department of Justice.

New accusations had emerged against the ex-prince, stripped of all his royal titles by the king in October, on which Andrew never commented.

Thames Valley Police said they were looking into allegations that a woman had been sent to the UK by Epstein in 2010 to have sex with Andrew at his Windsor home.

Sexual assault allegations

Police did not discuss the accusations Thursday. It is unknown whether she could question him on this subject.

Andrew has also been accused by American Virginia Giuffre of sexual assault dating back to when she was 17 - accusations he has always denied in the past.

Virginia Giuffre's brothers and sisters said Thursday they were "comforted to know that no one is above the law, not even royalty", adding that Andrew had "never been a prince", in a press release.

In 2022, legal action brought by Virginia Giuffre against Andrew resulted in a multi-million pound out-of-court settlement.

The sprawling Epstein affair – in which so far only one person, Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's ex-partner, has been convicted – has implicated multiple personalities around the world.

But the British monarchy is on the front line, and this arrest, unprecedented since the 17th century, "tests its transparency and its responsibilities", said the historian of the monarchy Anna Whitelock, of the City University of London.

For royal expert Ed Owens, “Andrew is like an unexploded bomb” that Queen Elizabeth II – of whom Andrew had the reputation of being the favorite son – would have left to Charles.

Will the police ask for information about his time as trade envoy, his relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell, or will they want to question members of the royal family? “All these unanswered questions must contribute to the king’s anxiety,” he said.

With AFP

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