LONDON — Thames Valley Police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at King Charles III’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on Thursday morning. Officers arrived as the ex-prince turned 66. They also searched his former home, Royal Lodge in Berkshire.

The arrest targets allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor shared sensitive trade reports from official trips to Vietnam and Singapore with Epstein in 2010. He served as Britain’s trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. UK guidelines require envoys to keep such information confidential even after leaving the post, according to government rules.

Police received the complaint from the anti-monarchy group Republic following the U.S. Department of Justice’s release last month of three million Epstein documents. The files include emails and photos linking Mountbatten-Windsor to the late sex offender. One email from the former prince thanks Epstein for aid with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson’s unpaid wages issue. Another discusses dinner at Buckingham Palace with ‘lots of privacy.’ Epstein offered to introduce ‘The Duke’ — believed to be Andrew — to a 26-year-old Russian woman.

Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded photos of daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to Epstein in 2010 and 2011 emails. The documents contradict his claims of cutting ties after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. A legal letter alleges Epstein and Andrew demanded an exotic dancer for a threesome at Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion in 2006. The dancer’s lawyer said she was treated like a prostitute.

Photos show the ex-prince on all fours over a blurred-face woman, touching her waist and stomach in two shots. He stares at the camera in a third. Police are also reviewing claims Epstein trafficked a woman to the UK for a sexual encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor.

This marks the first arrest of a senior royal in modern British history. Thames Valley Police held the man in his 60s in custody without naming him, per national guidelines. A statement warned against publications risking contempt of court charges.

Mountbatten-Windsor, son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, joined the Royal Navy in 1979. He earned pilot wings from his father in 1981 and retired as a commander in 2001 after 22 years. He married Ferguson in 1986; they divorced in 1992 but co-parented Beatrice and Eugenie from the same home. Ferguson called him ‘the best man I know’ in a 2019 Vogue Arabia interview.

Epstein ties surfaced publicly in 2010 with Central Park photos two years after Epstein’s guilty plea to soliciting a minor. Reports detailed Andrew’s stays at Epstein’s Florida and Manhattan homes. Ferguson got a $24,500 loan from Epstein via Andrew’s office. An email, likely from Andrew, urged Epstein: ‘Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!’

The fallout forced him to quit as trade envoy in July 2011. Virginia Giuffre sued in August 2021, accusing him of three sexual assaults including twice at age 17. Queen Elizabeth stripped his titles in January 2022 amid the case. He settled out of court in February 2022 for over $12 million; Giuffre died by suicide last year.

King Charles evicted him from Royal Lodge in October 2025 and revoked remaining titles over the scandal. Policing expert Danny Shaw told BBC News suspects face up to 96 hours in custody with extensions. Most stay 12-24 hours before charges or release. No special treatment awaits: just a cell with bed and toilet.