Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested: King Charles says ‘law must take its course’ as ex-prince taken into custody – live | UK news
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King Charles: Police ‘have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation’
King Charles has said “the law must take its course” after expressing his “deepest concern” over the arrest of his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
In a statement, the monarch said:
I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation.
Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.
As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.
Key events
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is “seismic” and has left senior royals in “unchartered waters”, a royal commentator has told the Press Association.
Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the royal family was facing a situation that it was “ill-equipped to navigate”.
He said:
The arrest of the eighth in line to the British throne is seismic.
Senior royals are now in unchartered waters that they are ill-equipped to navigate.
They will have to answer questions about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and be held accountable, something which, up until now, has been an alien concept for them.
Responding to news of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, former prime minister Gordon Brown said:
I have submitted a five-page memorandum to the Metropolitan, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and other relevant UK police constabularies.
This memorandum provides new and additional information to that which I submitted last week to the Met, Essex and Thames Valley police forces where I expressed my concern that we secure justice for trafficked girls and women.
The Scottish first minister John Swinney has spoken on the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Speaking to media in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, he said:
The announcement in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor obviously relates to a live case and I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to comment upon that.
Vikram Dodd
Following his arrest this morning, it is expected that the King’s brother will be interviewed under criminal caution by detectives over the allegations of misconduct in public office.
Police will have to decide whether Mountbatten-Windsor is detained overnight, whether they have enough to charge him with a criminal offence, whether they decide to take no further action, or whether they release him while their inquiries continue.
Police searches of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home at the Royal Lodge, in Windsor, are ongoing.
Officers can be seen at the gates of the sprawling property, while the press are being kept at an outer entrance.
A police spokesperson at the scene confirmed that the search is ongoing within the property.
Walkers and families are continuing to walk through the surrounding Windsor Great Park.
Prince and Princess of Wales ‘support the King’s statement’, PA reports
The Prince and Princess of Wales support the King’s statement following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Press Association understands.
King Charles had said “the law must take its course” after expressing his “deepest concern” over the arrest of his younger brother (see post 12.05).
Deputy prime minister David Lammy has said “nobody in this country is above the law” and that the police investigation “must happen in the usual way”.
Speaking to BBC News at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, he said:
As justice secretary – and as the prime minister has said – nobody in this country is above the law.
And this is now a police investigation and that must happen in the usual way.
Police did not give King advance notice of Mountbatten-Windsor arrest, reports PA
The Press Association is reporting that neither King Charles nor Buckingham Palace was informed in advance of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest.
Charles said earlier today that it was with “deepest concern” he had learnt about the arrest of his younger brother, the former Prince Andrew.
King Charles: Police ‘have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation’
King Charles has said “the law must take its course” after expressing his “deepest concern” over the arrest of his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
In a statement, the monarch said:
I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation.
Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.
As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.
The Queen has arrived for an engagement in Westminster just hours after police confirmed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Wearing a velvet, navy coat, Camilla was greeted by representatives of Sinfonia Smith Square where she will attend a lunchtime orchestral concert, PA reports.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest comes days after Buckingham Palace said it would “stand ready to support” the police if approached over the claims made against him.
A spokesman for the Palace added that the King had made clear his “profound concern” over Andrew’s alleged conduct.
The King’s brother is effectively no longer a royal, becoming a commoner after he was stripped by the monarch of both his right to be a prince and his dukedom late last year over his association with Epstein.
He does, however, remain in the line of succession – he is eighth in line to the throne, having gradually moved down after being born second in line.
Giuffre family: Mountbatten-Windsor arrest proves ‘no one is above the law’
Virginia Giuffre’s family have this morning said in a statement that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest shows that “no one is above the law”.
Giuffre was one of the most prominent victims of the disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein who also alleged she had been sexually trafficked to Prince Andrew.
She took her own life in April 2025, aged 41.
The statement reads:
At last, today our broken hearts have been lifted with the news that no one is above the law – not even royalty.
On behalf of our sister, we extend our gratitude to the UK’s Thames Valley Police in their investigation and arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you.
What is misconduct in public office and what is the punishment?
According to the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) website, misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
It describes the offence as “a common law offence that can be tried only on indictment” and “concerns serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held”.
Providing its own update on the investigation into Epstein and his associates in the UK, the CPS said:
We are in close contact with the Metropolitan Police Service and Thames Valley Police regarding high-profile individuals.
We remain ready to support any police investigations if needed.
Meanwhile, Norfolk Constabulary has told BBC News that it is “supporting a Thames Valley Police investigation into misconduct in a public office”.
