Prince Andrew was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations that he forwarded confidential trade documents to Jeffrey Epstein, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
The arrest took place early Thursday morning at Sandringham Estate in eastern England, which marked Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s 66th birthday.
At least six unmarked police vehicles and approximately eight plain-clothed officers arrived at the property around 8 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET).
Police arrest Prince Andrew connection to the Jeffrey Epstein files ‼️
“It’s Prince Andrew’s 66th Birthday today” pic.twitter.com/tHbO3yQFp4 [2]
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) February 19, 2026 [3]
One officer was seen carrying a police-issued laptop upon arrival. An unmarked vehicle departed the estate about 30 minutes later.
Another police car and a vehicle believed to be carrying Andrew’s security team also left Sandringham shortly after.
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police confirmed that Andrew remains in custody.
Thames Valley Police, the force responsible for the area that includes Andrew’s former residence, Royal Lodge, also conducted a search at a property in Berkshire as part of the investigation.
Andrew was reported to Thames Valley Police earlier this month over allegations of misconduct in public office.
An anti-monarchy campaigner filed the complaint after documents within the Epstein files allegedly showed that Andrew shared trade documents with Epstein.
Under the Official Secrets Act, trade envoys are required to keep details about their trips confidential, even after they are no longer in the role.
Thames Valley Police confirmed they are in discussions with prosecutors regarding whether to formally launch a criminal investigation.
If convicted on the misconduct charge, Andrew faces a potential maximum sentence of life in prison.
BREAKING: The King has issued a statement following the arrest of former Prince Andrew. pic.twitter.com/I7GbGzilDM [4]
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The arrest comes amid broader scrutiny tied to documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice connected to Epstein. Several UK police forces have said they are reviewing evidence contained within the trove of files.
Records indicate that 87 flights linked to Epstein arrived or departed from UK airports between the early 1990s and 2018.
Andrew has previously faced allegations connected to Epstein from Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was forced to have sex with him three times beginning when she was 17, at the direction of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew has denied the allegations and was never charged.
He later reached a civil settlement with Giuffre, paying millions of pounds while continuing to deny wrongdoing.
Following the controversy surrounding his association with Epstein and Maxwell, Andrew stepped back from royal duties and lost his titles.
He has also faced repeated calls to testify before a U.S. congressional committee regarding his ties to Epstein.
When asked about the arrest and whether Andrew would voluntarily cooperate with police, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC on Thursday, “I think that’s a matter for the police.
They will conduct their own investigations, but one of the core principles in our system is that everybody is equal under the law and nobody is above the law.
It’s a very important principle of our country… and it has to apply in this case in the same way it would in any other case.”
The investigation remains ongoing.