LONDON - Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, younger brother of the British monarch and former Duke of York, has been detained in connection with an investigation into his relationship with convicted US financier Jeffrey Epstein, according to the BBC. The police were due to arrest him on the day of his 66th birthday, a move that has attracted extraordinary attention from the British public and media.
According to the Daily Telegraph, several police cars arrived at his residence on the grounds of the royal estate of Sandringham in the east of England. The raid followed the launch of an official investigation into possible abuse of public office while Andrew was acting as the UK's Special Trade Commissioner.
Thames Valley Police have indirectly confirmed the arrest. It said in a statement that „a man in his sixties from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office“ and that simultaneous searches are underway at several addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. The police also refused to release the name of the detainee, citing national rules on protecting identities during investigations.
The investigation focuses on the period 2001 to 2011, when Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. Investigators suspect that he may have provided Epstein with non-public information obtained during official travel and meetings.
Sky News reported that documents released by the United States Department of Justice include references to Andrew passing messages to Epstein in 2010 from his foreign trips to Vietnam, Singapore and China and sharing sensitive information about investment projects in Afghanistan.
The case reopens the long-controversial issue of Andrew's contacts with Epstein, who was accused of trafficking underage girls in the US and died in custody in 2019. The former prince has previously faced strong public criticism and withdrew from public royal duties in 2019 after a media debacle in which he failed to convincingly explain his relationship with Epstein. Moreover, in 2022, he reached an out-of-court settlement in a civil case with one of Epstein's accusers without admitting guilt.
The British Royal Family has not yet officially commented on the current developments. Analysts have warned that the case may represent the most serious reputational crisis for the monarchy in years, as the investigation concerns a period when Andrew acted as the official representative of British economic interests abroad.
If the suspicions are confirmed, it could set a precedent for a high-ranking member of the royal family to face criminal proceedings for actions taken while in public office. Police say the investigation is continuing and further action will depend on the results of ongoing analysis of seized documents and electronic communications.
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