• Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was released “under investigation” Thursday evening after 11 hours in police custody — meaning he has neither been charged nor exonerated
• The former prince’s detention on his 66th birthday marked the first arrest of a senior British royal in nearly 400 years, triggered by Epstein file revelations about confidential government documents
• Virginia Giuffre’s family said their “broken hearts have been lifted” while King Charles pledged full cooperation and President Trump called the arrest “a shame”

LONDON, ENGLAND (TDR) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III, walked out of a Norfolk police station Thursday evening still under the cloud of an active criminal investigation after spending 11 hours in custody. Thames Valley Police confirmed he was released “under investigation” — a legal status that means the Epstein files probe is far from over and the former prince has been neither charged nor cleared of suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Photographed slouched in the back of a vehicle leaving Aylsham Police Station, Mountbatten-Windsor returned to the Sandringham Estate roughly 30 minutes later. His release does not end the investigation — it signals that police need more time to build their case. The detention itself already made history as the first arrest of a senior British royal in nearly 400 years.

“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office. It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence.” — Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright, Thames Valley Police

Epstein Files Triggered the Investigation

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The arrest stems from documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice containing millions of pages related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Among those documents, emails appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor forwarding confidential government trade reports to Epstein while serving as the United Kingdom’s special representative for international trade between 2001 and 2011.

One email thread from November 2010 reportedly shows the former prince forwarding official reports on visits to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam — sent to him by his then-special adviser — directly to Epstein within minutes of receiving them. Mountbatten-Windsor reportedly told Epstein he was sharing the documents to seek his input on potential investment opportunities described in the briefs.

The anti-monarchy group Republic filed the initial complaint with police earlier this month, prompting Thames Valley Police to begin assessing whether the evidence met the criminal threshold for investigation.

“We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.” — Thames Valley Police statement

King Charles and Trump React

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King Charles III issued a statement confirming his brother’s arrest and pledging cooperation with investigators.

“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. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”

— King Charles III

Buckingham Palace reportedly received no advance warning of the arrest. The Prince and Princess of Wales said they supported the King’s statement. Charles had already stripped his brother of his royal titles in late 2025 and evicted him from Royal Lodge in Windsor over the Epstein ties.

President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, called the situation regrettable.

“I think it’s a shame. I think it’s very sad. I think it’s so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad to me.”— President Donald Trump

When pressed on whether similar arrests could happen in the United States, Trump pivoted to his own position, claiming he had been “totally exonerated” and describing himself as “the expert in a way” on the Epstein matter. He did not address Epstein by name.

Epstein Files and the Broader Accountability Question

The arrest carries weight beyond Britain’s borders. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reinforced the principle underlying the detention.

“Nobody is above the law.”— Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest is the second major UK investigation triggered by the Epstein files. London’s Metropolitan Police are separately investigating former British Ambassador Peter Mandelson over allegations he shared market-sensitive government information with Epstein during the 2008 financial crisis. Mandelson has denied wrongdoing and has not been arrested.

Meanwhile, France opened two new Epstein-related investigations this week, and Latvia has launched a human trafficking probe connected to the files. Democratic lawmakers in the United States have pointed to the overseas actions as evidence that American authorities should pursue similar accountability.

“If a Prince can be held accountable, so can a President.”— Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM)

Survivors and Families Respond

The family of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Epstein of trafficking her to have sex with the former prince when she was 17 and who died by suicide in 2025, issued an emotional statement.

“At last, today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty. He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you.”— Giuffre family statement

Spencer T. Kuvin, a longtime attorney representing Epstein’s victims, said the arrest could restore confidence in the legal system’s reach.

“Victims of abuse often face disbelief and backlash. The legal process must remain centered on survivors’ dignity regardless of the fame, power or wealth of a potential perpetrator.”— Spencer T. Kuvin, Epstein victims’ attorney

Epstein victim Maria Farmer called Thursday’s events a beginning rather than an ending.

“Today is just the beginning of accountability and justice brought forth by Virginia Roberts Giuffre — a young mother who adored her daughter so deeply, she fought the most powerful on earth to protect her.”— Maria Farmer

Released Under Investigation — What That Actually Means

The phrase “released under investigation” carries specific legal weight in the British system. Unlike being released without charge — which effectively ends police interest — this status means Mountbatten-Windsor remains a suspect while detectives continue gathering evidence. There is no time limit on how long someone can remain under investigation, and police can re-arrest him if new evidence emerges.

Under UK law, misconduct in public office requires prosecutors to prove that a public officer willfully abused or neglected the responsibilities of their position to a degree that amounts to a breach of the public’s trust. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, though legal experts note the bar for conviction is high — only 191 people were convicted of the charge between 2014 and 2024.

Sean Caulfield, a criminal defense lawyer at Hodge Jones & Allen, noted the legal complexity ahead.

“Proving misconduct in a public office is an extremely high bar. Firstly, it must be determined if Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was in a role within government that constitutes the title of public officer.”— Sean Caulfield, criminal defense attorney

Searches at Royal Lodge in Berkshire were still ongoing as of Thursday evening even after Mountbatten-Windsor’s release — a sign investigators are casting a wide net. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has not commented publicly on the misconduct allegations. He previously paid approximately $16 million to settle Giuffre’s sexual assault lawsuit in 2022 without admitting liability.

With Mountbatten-Windsor released but not cleared, the investigation now enters its most consequential phase — does “released under investigation” signal that charges are being carefully built, or that prosecutors face an evidentiary bar too high to clear even for the most high-profile suspect the Epstein files have produced?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from CBS News’ coverage of the arrest and Epstein file revelations, CNN’s live updates on the detention and release, NBC News’ reporting on the arrest and reactions, Fox News’ coverage of the misconduct allegations, NPR’s reporting on the release and investigation, Al Jazeera’s coverage of the arrest and UK reactions, CNBC’s reporting on Trump’s response, The Hill’s coverage of Democratic lawmakers’ reactions, CNN’s analysis of the Trump administration’s Epstein response, Newsweek’s reporting on the legal process and survivor reactions, and CBC News’ coverage of the release.

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