UK police arrest Prince Andrew in Epstein leaks probe, release after questioning

British police arrested Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, at his country residence in Sandringham on Thursday as part of an investigation into allegations that he leaked sensitive government documents to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The 66-year-old royal was taken into custody in a operation involving multiple police vehicles, with searches conducted at his properties in Berkshire and Norfolk before he was released after 12 hours of questioning.

Allegations of Document Leaks

The arrest follows the January 30 release of millions of pages of documents under the US Epstein Files Transparency Act, which revealed communications suggesting Andrew passed confidential information to Epstein. According to the files, the prince forwarded official trip reports from visits to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam to Epstein within minutes of receiving them from his private secretary in November 2010. The documents also indicate Andrew shared information about classified investment opportunities in Afghanistan with Epstein in December 2010. The US Justice Department release included 3.5 million pages, 180,000 photographs, and 2,000 videos related to Epstein's extensive network.

Royal and Government Response

Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented that the arrest demonstrates "no one is above the law." King Charles III, Andrew's brother, issued a statement saying he learned of the development with "deep concern" and emphasized that "the law must take its course," offering "full, sincere support and cooperation" to authorities while declining further comment. Andrew had previously been stripped of his royal titles and military patronages over his friendship with Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Investigation Continues

The misconduct in public office investigation focuses on whether Andrew abused his position as a working royal to obtain and disseminate classified materials. His release on bail pending further investigation leaves open the possibility of charges as authorities continue examining the evidence, including inappropriate photographs of the prince with an unidentified woman that emerged in the latest document release. The case marks one of the most significant criminal investigations ever directed at a senior member of the British royal family.