Metropolitan Police Statement: Prince Andrew Arrest (February 2026)
Official statement from the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with the Epstein files.
Overview
On February 19, 2026, the Metropolitan Police Service issued a statement confirming the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly styled as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest, carried out at his residence, made him the first senior member of the British Royal Family to be arrested in nearly 400 years.
The Metropolitan Police statement was brief and formal, consistent with standard police practice in active investigations. It confirmed the arrest, identified the suspect, stated the offence under investigation, and noted that the individual had been released after questioning.
The Statement
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the following key facts:
- A 66-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
- The arrest was connected to an ongoing investigation into matters arising from documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act
- The individual was held for approximately 12 hours of questioning
- He was subsequently released while the investigation continues
The statement did not provide details about the specific allegations, consistent with the Metropolitan Police's standard practice of not commenting on the substance of active investigations.
Context: Misconduct in Public Office
Misconduct in public office is a common-law offence in England and Wales. It is committed when a public official, acting as such, willfully neglects to perform their duty or willfully misconducts themselves to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness with which the law treats the abuse of public trust. However, actual sentences for misconduct convictions vary widely depending on the severity of the conduct.
In Andrew's case, the allegation relates to his conduct while serving as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from 2001 to 2011. According to reporting by CBS News, NBC News, and NPR, the investigation centers on whether he shared confidential government information with Jeffrey Epstein during the period of their association.
The Investigation Background
The Metropolitan Police's investigation was reportedly initiated after UK authorities received materials from their U.S. counterparts following the January 30, 2026 release of 3.5 million pages of Epstein investigation documents through the DOJ's Epstein Library. The released documents contained communications and records that raised questions about the nature of information Andrew shared with Epstein.
According to NBC News, Paris and London police opened new probes connected to the Epstein files in early February 2026. The Metropolitan Police's investigation into Andrew appears to be part of this broader law enforcement response to the document releases.
Reaction
Royal Family
King Charles had previously stripped his brother of royal titles and the "His Royal Highness" style. Following the arrest, the Royal Family issued no immediate public statement, consistent with its established position that Andrew's legal matters are personal.
Political Response
The arrest prompted significant political commentary in the United Kingdom and internationally. Many commentators noted the contrast between the swift British law enforcement response and what has been described as a more muted response in the United States, where no officials have been arrested or resigned in connection with the files despite numerous mentions of U.S. political figures.
Victims' Advocates
Survivors and their representatives described the arrest as a significant step toward accountability. Virginia Giuffre, who previously sued Andrew in civil court (settling in February 2022), had long advocated for criminal investigation of individuals named in the Epstein files.
Important Legal Context
Several important points of legal context apply:
An arrest is not a conviction. Andrew has not been charged with or convicted of any criminal offence. The arrest represents the beginning of a legal process, not its conclusion.
The CPS decision is pending. Following the investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service will determine whether to authorize formal criminal charges. This process can take weeks or months and involves an independent assessment of whether the evidence meets the threshold for prosecution.
The misconduct allegation is distinct from sexual abuse allegations. The arrest relates specifically to alleged misconduct in public office — sharing confidential government information — not to the sexual abuse allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, which were resolved through a civil settlement in 2022.
Presumption of innocence. Andrew is entitled to the full protections of the legal process, including the presumption of innocence.
The Broader Pattern
Andrew's arrest is the most high-profile but not the only consequence of the Epstein files release in the United Kingdom. The Metropolitan Police has opened a broader criminal investigation into matters arising from the documents. Peter Mandelson, a senior Labour Party figure, resigned from the party and the House of Lords over his documented association with Epstein.
Across Europe, the files have triggered:
- Criminal charges against former Norwegian PM Thorbjorn Jagland
- Resignations by diplomats in Slovakia and Sweden
- Formal investigations in France, Turkey, and Lithuania
The European response to the Epstein files has been notably swifter and more consequential than the U.S. response, a dynamic that has itself become a subject of significant media and political commentary.