UK weighs removing ex-Prince Andrew from succession line amid Epstein probe

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been released under investigation after police questioned the former prince in relation to allegations he shared confidential material with Jeffrey Epstein. Officers searched Mountbatten-Windsor’s Sandringham residence as well as his former home at the Royal Lodge in Great Windsor Park after arresting him on Thursday. The former prince has denied any wrongdoing. But what were the police searching for and what could happen next? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s police and crime correspondent, Vikram Dodd – watch on YouTube Continue reading...

King Charles III’s family, long rocked by infighting and grievous losses, is facing what could be the gravest threat to its moral authority in more than a generation.

Guardian review of US justice department files reveals Epstein interacted with six CBP officers. Plus, how anxiety over AI could fuel a new workers’ movement Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. Federal investigators examined Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship with a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer who worked at the St Thomas airport to which the late convicted sex offender flew regularly by private plane before traveling by boat or helicopter to his private island, newly released documents reveal . Was anyone ever charged? No CBP officer was ever charged for crimes related to Epstein, and the Guardian has not seen any evidence to suggest that CBP officers had direct knowledge or involvement in Epstein’s crimes. How have Epstein’s survivors reacted? One of them, Marijke Chartouni, said: “If only the US justice department acted as decisively. It took British police less than three weeks from the release of the latest tranche of Epstein files to arrest Andrew, making Pam Bondi and Kash Patel look increasingly inept.” Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: As investigators dig deeper into newly ​​released documents, the arrest of a once‑untouchable ​public figure​ puts us in uncharted territory Good morning. Some days there isn’t an immediately obvious theme for what tomorrow’s newsletter should be about. Yesterday was not one of those days. As Thames Valley police confirmed early on Thursday that a “man in his 60s from Norfolk” had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, it quickly became clear who the 1,000th First Edition would feature. The man taken into custody was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York – arrested at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, on his 66th birthday. He is the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested . By the evening, Andrew was seen leaving Aylsham police station, slouched in the back of a vehicle, having been released under investigation. Civil service | Keir Starmer has appointed Antonia Romeo as cabinet secretary, the UK’s most senior civil servant, the first woman to hold the post in its 110-year history. Iran | Donald Trump changed his mind on supporting the Chagos Islands deal because the UK will not permit its airbases to be used for a pre-emptive US strike on Iran, the Guardian has been told . Palestine | Almost 60 Palestinian journalists detained in Israeli prisons since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack have been beaten, starved and subjected to sexual violence, including rape , a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) alleges. Iran | A British couple have been sentenced to 10 years in jail by an Iranian court on charges of espionage – an outcome foreign secretary Yvette Cooper called “completely appalling and totally unjustifiable”. Education | Children in England with special needs will receive individual support and therapy directly from their schools as part of the government’s overhaul of England’s special education provision. Continue reading...

The arrest of the 66-year old former prince has sent shockwaves through the UK and abroad, with reaction rolling in from the US to Australia King says ‘law must take its course’ What the papers say Calls for justice in the US Here are some pictures from the newswires from Thursday when Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested: A search at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former Berkshire home by UK police remains underway following the former prince’s arrest on Thursday. Continue reading...

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, is being investigated on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Recently disclosed documents show name of former prince came up during 2011 inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested – live updates While Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ’s arrest by British police on Thursday came after years of uproar over his association with Jeffrey Epstein , documents show he had been on the radar of US law enforcement for nearly 15 years. Mountbatten-Windsor’s name came up during a 2011 FBI inquiry into Epstein, investigative documents recently disclosed by the justice department reveal. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all allegations of misconduct related to Epstein. Continue reading...

The brother of King Charles III was a popular member of the royal family and adored by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. He fell from grace because of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The arrest of the former prince maintains the spotlight on links between the government of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Jeffrey Epstein.

Police assessing if Mountbatten-Windsor shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein. Plus: how plastic production has doubled Good morning. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. What other information has the force shared? Thames Valley police previously said they were reviewing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Andrew. This is a developing story: follow the latest updates . What is the ISF? According to the UN, which authorized the creation of a temporary force, the ISF will be tasked with securing Gaza’s border and maintaining peace within the area. It’s also supposed to protect civilians, and train and support “vetted Palestinian police forces”. What about in case of renewed war? It’s unclear what the ISF’s rules of engagement would be if there was combat, renewed bombing by Israel, or Hamas attacks. What other news is there from Gaza? A Lancet study has found that the death toll in the first 16 months of the war in Gaza was far higher than reported. Continue reading...

William and Kate ‘remain focused on victims’ in their first words on scandal involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor The Prince and Princess of Wales have been “deeply concerned” by the revelations from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Kensington Palace has said. It is the first time the views of William and Catherine have been known about the crisis, which has engulfed the monarchy and Westminster, and their thoughts “remain focused on the victims”. Continue reading...

Thames Valley police says it will review allegation that Epstein trafficked woman to UK to have sex with Andrew at Royal Lodge British police are to review fresh allegations that Jeffrey Epstein provided Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with a woman to have sex with at the Royal Lodge in 2010. The woman has claimed she spent the night at the then prince’s residence in Windsor, her US lawyer, Brad Edwards, said after the allegations surfaced over the weekend. The woman, who is not British, was in her 20s at the time, and was later given a tour of Buckingham Palace, it is further alleged. Continue reading...

Flight logs reveal three British women onboard who were allegedly trafficked by convicted sex offender, according to BBC Nearly 90 flights linked to Jeffrey Epstein reportedly arrived at and departed from UK airports, some with British women onboard who allege they were abused by the convicted child sex offender. Analysis by the BBC found three British women who were allegedly trafficked appear in Epstein’s records of flights in and out of the UK and other documents related to the late disgraced billionaire. Continue reading...

The report comes as police widen investigations into former prince, including questioning his close protection teams.

Mountbatten-Windsor remains under investigation, which means he has neither been charged nor exonerated by police.

The UK’s former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was filmed leaving a police station on Thursday night.

Journsalists wait at the entrance gate of the Sandringham Royal Estate in Sandringham, England, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested and held for hours by British police on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his links to Jeffrey Epstein.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) 2026-02-20T09:43:22Z LONDON (AP) — Police continued on Friday to search the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a day after the former prince was held in custody for the best part of 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein . Following one of the most tumultuous days in the modern history of Britain’s royal family, the former Prince Andrew is back at his new home on the Sandringham estate , King Charles III ‘s private retreat, which is around 115 miles (185 kilometers) north of London. Police have concluded their search there but are still searching Royal Lodge, his 30-room former home in the grounds of Windsor Castle , just west of the capital. Mountbatten-Windsor, who was pictured slouched in the back of his chauffeur-driven car following his release Thursday evening, remains under investigation, which means he has neither been charged nor exonerated by Thames Valley Police, the force responsible for areas west of London. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Arrest was years in the making His arrest follows years of allegations over his links with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York prison in 2019. The accusation at the heart of his arrest is that Mountbatten-Windsor — who was known as Prince Andrew until October when his brother stripped him of his titles and honors — shared confidential trade information with the disgraced financier when he was a trade envoy for the U.K. Specifically, emails released last month by the U.S. Department of Justice appeared to show Mountbatten-Windsor sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore. One, dated November 2010, appeared to be forwarded by Andrew five minutes after he had received it. Another a few weeks later appeared to show him sending Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Other police forces in the U.K. are also conducting their own investigations into Mountbatten-Windsor’s Epstein-related links. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his association with Epstein but has not commented on the most recent allegations that have emerged with the release of the so-called Epstein files. Arrest was sudden, investigation will take time Police swept into the grounds of Mountbatten-Windsor’s home to arrest him at 8 a.m. Thursday — his 66th birthday — before taking him to a nearby police station for questioning. It’s not known what he told them. He may have said nothing, or “no comment,” as is his right. Experts said that misconduct in a public office is notoriously difficult to prove. “Firstly, it must be determined if Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was in a role within government that constitutes the title of public officer,” said Sean Caulfield, a criminal defense lawyer at Hodge Jones & Allen. “There is no standard definition to clearly draw on.” freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); The Crown Prosecution Service will ultimately make a decision about charging him. Andrew Gilmore, a partner at Grosvenor Law, said that prosecutors will apply the two-stage test known as the “Code for Crown Prosecutors.” “That test is to determine whether there is a more realistic prospect of a conviction than not based on the evidence and whether the matter is in the public interest,” he said. “If these two tests are met, then the matter will be charged and proceed to court.” freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Arrest is not just unusual, it’s historic Mountbatten-Windsor was the first royal since King Charles I nearly four centuries ago to be placed under arrest. That turned into a seismic moment in British history, leading to civil war, Charles’ beheading and the temporary abolition of the monarchy. His arrest is undoubtedly one of the gravest crises to affect the House of Windsor since its establishment more than 100 years ago. Arguably, only the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936 and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 have been as grave for the institution of the British monarchy in modern times. For the king, it’s business as usual Though the king and the royal family will carry out their normal duties as normal, the questions surrounding Mountbatten-Windsor will continue, not least because the investigations are likely to take time. In a statement Thursday, the king said the “law must take its course,’’ but that as ”this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.’’ freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); The allegations are not related to Epstein’s sex trafficking The allegations being investigated Thursday are separate from those made by Virginia Giuffre , who claimed she was trafficked to Britain to have sex with the prince in 2001, when she was just 17. Giuffre died by suicide last year. Still, Giuffre’s sister-in-law Amanda Roberts said that she was overjoyed when she got a phone call at 3 a.m. telling her the news of the arrest. But those feelings of elation were quickly complicated by the realization that she couldn’t share the feelings of “vindication” with Giuffre. “We can’t tell her how much we love her, and that everything that she was doing is not in vain,” Roberts added tearfully. 获取更多RSS： https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

State officials say the information in unsealed FBI files 'warrant further examination' of a case closed in 2019.

Mountbatten-Windsor, the former UK prince, has not been charged with a crime and was released under investigation.

The former prince spent the day at a police station in Norfolk, before being released under investigation.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is in custody after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Prince Andrew leaves St. Giles Cathedral after the arrival of the coffin containing the remains of his mother Queen Elizabeth, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sept. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File) 2026-02-19T12:22:05Z LONDON (AP) — He was reportedly his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite, but the former Prince Andrew has long been a headache for Britain’s royal family. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested Thursday , his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office in an inquiry stemming from his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein . He is the first senior British royal in modern history to be detained by police. He was born a prince in 1960, the second child of the queen and her husband Prince Philip. His elder brother Charles was destined for the throne. Andrew took a tried-and-tested route for younger royal sons: military service. After 22 years in the Royal Navy, including combat operations as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War, Andrew was named Britain’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); The current police investigation stems from that period. It follows documents in recently released Epstein files that suggest Andrew passed on official government documents to the late financier when he was a trade envoy. The former prince has not been charged with a crime. He has long denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links. Mountbatten-Windsor was forced to step down from the trade role in 2011 amid growing concern about his friendship with Epstein, who had been sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 after pleading guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution. Once a subject of media fascination for his love life, the man the tabloids dubbed “Randy Andy” became a regular source of headlines because of his money woes and links to questionable characters, including Epstein, the American financier and convicted sex offender. After Epstein was arrested again in 2019, Andrew gave a disastrous interview to the BBC’s Newsnight program, in which he tried to explain away his contacts with Epstein. It backfired – he was widely criticized for giving unbelievable explanations and for failing to show empathy for Epstein’s victims. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Amid the backlash, Andrew announced on Nov. 20, 2019, that he was giving up public duties and charity roles “for the foreseeable future.” In August 2021, one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre, sued Andrew in a New York court , alleging that the prince had sex with her when she was underage. Andrew denied the allegations, but he was stripped of all military affiliations and royal charity work. Andrew ultimately settled the case for an undisclosed sum . While he didn’t admit wrongdoing, Andrew did acknowledge Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking. Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, aged 41. That was not the end of the story. After emails emerged last year showing Andrew remained in contact with Epstein longer than he previously claimed, King Charles III stripped his brother of his princely title and other honors and his home at Royal Lodge in Windsor. Now he is also in police custody. He remains eighth in line to the British throne. JILL LAWLESS Lawless is based in London, covering British politics, diplomacy and culture and top stories from the UK and beyond. She has reported for the AP from two dozen countries on four continents. twitter mailto

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the former UK prince, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his title last year over his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

US lawmakers say Mandelson holds 'critical information' about Epstein’s operations and have requested cooperation.

Following the latest release of the Epstein files, claims made by the then Prince Andrew in 2019 are under fresh scrutiny.

Pal Lonseth, chief of the specialised Okokrim economic crimes unit, says Jagland suspected of 'aggravated corruption'.

British police are assessing a complaint that ex-prince sent confidential trade reports to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Properties in London and Wiltshire searched as police investigate alleged leaks to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

2026-02-06T16:04:31Z LONDON (AP) — British police on Friday searched two properties linked to ex-ambassador Peter Mandelson as part of a probe into potential misconduct stemming from his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart said that “officers from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime team are in the process of carrying out search warrants at two addresses, one in the Wiltshire area, and another in the Camden area. “The searches are related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office offences, involving a 72-year-old man.” Mandelson, 72, has homes in Wiltshire in western England and the Camden area of London. Police are investigating Mandelson over potential misconduct in public office over documents suggesting he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. Mandelson has not been arrested or charged. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a political storm over his decision in 2024 to appoint Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.

Lawyers representing victims say it is “shocking” there has never been a “full-scale” UK inquiry.

Britain’s government will consider new legislation to remove the former prince Andrew from the line of royal succession once the police investigation into his ties with Epstein is over, a UK official said on Friday. Any changes to the line of succession – Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is eighth in line to the throne – would require consultation and agreement with other countries where King Charles ‌is head of state, said the official, who asked not to be identified. The former prince was arrested...

Until Thursday morning, it had been nearly four centuries since the arrest of a senior British royal. On his 66th birthday, the late Queen Elizabeth’s favourite son was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office. By evening, the former prince was released from police custody. But the ongoing investigation will unpick years of lurid allegations about Andrew’s ties to the disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein that have heaped embarrassment on his brother, King Charles. The arrest of...

Britain’s typically pro-royal public welcomed the arrest Thursday of the former prince Andrew, whose friendship with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has turned him into an outcast. Some appeared delighted that police were holding King Charles’ brother, arguing it sent the right message that the royal family was not above the law. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, called the arrest “very sad” on Thursday. “I think it’s a shame. I think it’s very sad. I think it’s so bad for the...

A UK police force says it has arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The police force did not name Mountbatten-Windsor, as is normal under UK law. But when asked if he had been arrested, the force pointed to a statement saying that they had arrested a man in his sixties. Mountbatten-Windsor’s 66th birthday falls on Thursday. “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,’’ the...

British police said they were examining claims that the former Prince Andrew sent confidential trade reports to Jeffrey Epstein, as Prince William’s office said he was “deeply concerned’’ about the revelations coming out of the US investigation into the late sex offender. Thames Valley Police, which serves areas west of London, including the ex-royal’s former home in Windsor, launched the inquiry after news organisations reported on emails that suggest Andrew sent Epstein reports from a 2010...

Police in the United Kingdom announced a criminal investigation Tuesday into Peter Mandelson, Britain's former ambassador to the United States, after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released millions of court documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein . Metropolitan Police Cmdr. Ella Marriot in London said following the DOJ documents dump, the Met received "a number of reports" into alleged misconduct in public office, including a referral from the UK government. "I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former Government Minister, for misconduct in public office offenses," Marriot wrote in a statement . RESURFACED PHOTO LINKS MAMDANI TO EPSTEIN-CONNECTED PUBLICIST AT NEW YORK CITY EVENT "The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won’t be commenting any further at this time," she added. Mandelson resigned Sunday from the governing Labour Party amid allegations he received $75,000 in payments from Epstein and shared sensitive government information after the 2008 financial crisis. HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO SUBPOENA LES WEXNER, 2 OTHERS IN EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION Prime Minister Keir Starmer abruptly fired Mandelson from his ambassadorial position in September following the release of emails between Mandelson and Epstein. Starmer on Monday requested an urgent review of Mandelson’s communications with Epstein while he was in office. The House of Lords announced on Tuesday Mandelson is stepping down. "He will cease to be a member tomorrow," the House of Lords told Fox News Digital. "We have no comment on any possible police investigation." Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while in federal custody. He was awaiting trial on charges including sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. The Associated Press contributed to this report.