when was a royal last arrested

The most recent instance of a royal being arrested is the case of Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew), who was arrested on 19 February 2026.

Quick Scoop: What happened?

Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor was taken into custody by UK police on suspicion of misconduct in public office, linked to allegations that he improperly shared confidential information while serving as a UK trade envoy.

Reports note that he was arrested at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk on his 66th birthday and that searches were carried out at properties in Berkshire and Norfolk.

Several major outlets describe this as the first arrest of a high‑ranking or senior British royal in modern or “contemporary” history, underlining how unprecedented the event is for the monarchy.

Why this is such a big deal

• He is described as the first high‑ranking British royal to face arrest in nearly four centuries or in modern history.

• The arrest follows renewed scrutiny of his links to Jeffrey Epstein and allegations about sharing confidential briefings and trade‑related information.

• Commentators and analysts say this could further damage the monarchy’s reputation and even raise questions about its long‑term stability.

Official reaction and “no one above the law”

• Thames Valley Police confirmed they had arrested a man in his sixties in Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and were conducting searches, widely understood to refer to Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor.

• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that “no one is above the law” and that the prince should cooperate with US authorities, reinforcing the seriousness of the case.

• King Charles issued a statement expressing “deepest concern” and stressing that the issue must be handled through a full, fair and proper legal process, while referring to his brother formally as “Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor,” not by a royal title.

Historical and “last time” perspective

When people ask “when was a royal last arrested,” they are usually struck by how rare this is. Contemporary coverage stresses that:

• Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor is believed to be the first member of the British royal family arrested in modern British history.

• Some reports frame it as the first arrest of a high‑ranking royal in almost 400 years, underscoring how far back you have to go to find anything comparable.

Because of that, for practical purposes and in current news terms, Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor’s arrest on 19 February 2026 is the answer to “when was a royal last arrested.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.