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Britain’s Prince Andrew speaks to the media during the Sunday service at All Saints’ Chapel Royal in Windsor Great Park, Britain, following the death on Friday of his father Prince Philip, aged 99, April 11, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
SANDRINGHAM:
The British royal family was in crisis on Thursday as former Prince Andrew was in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct over his links to late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The arrest of a member of the royal family is unprecedented in Britain’s modern era, and within hours King Charles III issued a rare personally signed statement insisting that “the law must take its course.”
It was a further humiliating blow for the ousted prince, who turned 66 on Thursday and was stripped of his titles last year.
But the news was well received on the streets of London.
“It’s good that they stopped it,” data analyst Jennifer Tiso, 39, told AFP. “I don’t think just because you’re related to the royal family you should be above the law.”
Police said they were also searching two properties, with the BBC reporting that one was Andrew’s former home, Royal Lodge, on the monarchy’s estate in Windsor, west of London.
The other was his residence since this month at the private estate of King Sandringham in Norfolk, eastern England, where his arrest took place, according to British media.
Widely published images showed several unmarked cars, believed to be police vehicles, arriving there early on Thursday.
Thames Valley Police said in a statement they had arrested “a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office”, without naming the suspect, as is common practice in Britain.
“The man remains in police custody at this time,” he added.
Andrew’s ties to Epstein, a convicted financier and sex offender awaiting trial on trafficking allegations when he died in a US prison in 2019, caused the former royal’s spectacular years-long downfall.
‘Concern’
Andrew’s arrest follows new revelations last week that the former prince appeared to have sent Epstein potentially sensitive documents during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
In a November 2010 email seen by AFP, Andrew appeared to share reports on several Asian countries with the American financier after an official visit to the region.
The former royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, also allegedly sent her details of the trip, on which he was accompanied by Epstein’s business associates, along with investment opportunities months later.
Last year, Charles stripped his brother of his titles and ordered him to leave his Windsor mansion, although he remains eighth in line to the British throne.
In his statement on Thursday, the king reiterated that he had learned of the latest claims “with the deepest concern” and that police have the “full and sincere support and cooperation” of Buckingham Palace.
“Let me say it clearly: the law must take its course,” he added.
In an apparent attempt to project an air of business as usual, Charles carried out several public duties on Thursday, including attending an event to kick off London Fashion Week.
“How do you feel after your brother’s arrest?” a journalist shouted at least twice when he arrived. It was unclear whether the king heard the question. He didn’t answer.
Royal commentator Katie Nicholl told Sky News: “Let’s not be fooled. This is a moment of crisis for the monarchy, possibly the biggest crisis since the abdication (1936). Nobody quite knows how this will end.”
The scandal has been gaining momentum since one of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Giuffre, claimed last year in her posthumous memoir that she had been trafficked into having sex with Andrew when she was a teenager.
The Giuffre family welcomed Andrew’s arrest on Thursday, saying “our broken hearts have been lifted by the news,” adding that he was “never a prince.”
‘Strong message’
Andrew has previously denied wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein.
It settled a 2022 U.S. civil lawsuit brought by Giuffre without admitting liability.
The former prince served as British trade envoy for a decade from 2001.
Official guidance stipulates that trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive commercial or political information relating to their official visits, the BBC said.
Misconduct in public office carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
It was unclear where Andrew was being held. Under UK law, he can be detained for 24 hours without charge, after which police must apply to the courts for an extension of custody.
At least nine UK police forces have confirmed they are assessing claims arising from Epstein’s files, many of them relating to Andrew.
This follows the latest release by the US Department of Justice of millions of files from its investigation into the American financier.
