Former Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he shared confidential government documents with Jeffrey Epstein, the BBC reported.
Thames Valley Police said earlier this month that officers were assessing claims that Andrew passed documents to Epstein, citing material released by the U.S. government. In a statement posted on X, the force confirmed it had opened an investigation into misconduct in public office and that “a man in his sixties from Norfolk” had been arrested and remained in custody, adding that national guidance prevented it from naming the suspect.
Media reports indicated that several unmarked police vehicles and plainclothes officers were seen at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate, where Andrew resides.
The former prince, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and previously expressed regret over their association. He has not commented publicly since the latest document release. There was no immediate response from Buckingham Palace.
Andrew was reportedly referred to police by the anti-monarchy group Republic following the publication of millions of pages of Epstein-related records. Some documents suggested that, in 2010, Andrew forwarded reports about Vietnam, Singapore and other destinations he visited on official trips.
Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have said the case involves particular complexities, noting that misconduct in public office is a common law offence rather than one defined in statute.