Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after being stripped of his royal titles, faces no formal criminal charges as of February 2026 but was recently arrested on suspicion of serious allegations.

Arrest Details

On February 19, 2026—his 66th birthday—Thames Valley Police arrested him at his Berkshire home on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This stemmed from revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein files, including claims he misused his former role as UK Trade Envoy for personal gain and attempted to access information on accuser Virginia Giuffre via police resources over a decade ago.

He was detained for nearly 12 hours, during which officers searched properties in Berkshire and Norfolk. No charges were filed; he was released under investigation, with nine UK police forces now reviewing Epstein-related reports.

Buckingham Palace noted King Charles' commitment to full cooperation, stressing the law must take its course.

Epstein and Giuffre Context

The core allegations trace back to Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking network. Virginia Giuffre sued Andrew in 2021, claiming he sexually abused her at age 17 after being trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell—she dropped the civil suit in 2022 after a settlement, but he admitted she was an "established victim of abuse" without confessing wrongdoing.

Public and expert pressure has intensified since his 2025 title loss, leaving him "vulnerable" to prosecution as a private citizen, per royal watchers. Calls also probe his trade envoy tenure for potential corruption.

Andrew maintains innocence, denying all misconduct.

Potential Next Steps

  • Ongoing probes : UK police assess Epstein ties; US extradition possible if evidence mounts.
  • Multi-viewpoints : Anti-monarchy groups like Republic push for accountability; supporters cite lack of charges as vindication.
  • Timeline highlights : 2021 Giuffre suit → 2022 settlement → 2025 title strip → 2026 arrest (no charges yet).

Allegation| Status| Key Source
---|---|---
Sexual abuse (Giuffre)| Civilly settled; no criminal charges| 13
Misconduct in public office| Arrested Feb 19, 2026; released under investigation| 35
Trade Envoy misuse| Under review by police| 13

This high-profile saga underscores shifting accountability for royals-turned- commoners, with experts predicting prolonged scrutiny amid public resentment. Latest as of Feb 20, 2026: No charges filed.

TL;DR : Arrested yesterday for suspected public office misconduct tied to Epstein files; released without charges—investigation continues.

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