February 19, 2026 • United Kingdom
EPSTEIN ROYAL ARREST - Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Arrested for Forwarding Sensitive UK Government Reports from Trade Visits of Vietnam, Singapore, and China to Israeli Agent, Jeffrey Epstein - Infograph
The former Duke of York has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, accused of passing sensitive government documents and commercial intelligence to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
📝 SMikhail
👑
Former Prince
Royal Status
Eighth in line to the throne, stripped of royal titles
📄
2010
Key Allegations
Forwarded sensitive government reports from trade visits to Vietnam, Singapore, and China
🚨
Misconduct
Charge
Suspicion of misconduct in public office
🤝
Jeffrey Epstein
Associate
Israeli agent and convicted sex offender at center of scandal
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, has been arrested this morning by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
- The arrest is linked to recently released files from the US Department of Justice showing he forwarded sensitive government documents and commercial information to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Police have been assessing allegations that a woman in her 20s was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew at Royal Lodge in 2010.
- The arrest comes after images emerged of police officers near the Sandringham estate, where Andrew resides at Wood Farm.
- Andrew allegedly forwarded government reports from official trade visits to Vietnam, Singapore, and China to Epstein in 2010.
- Documents also appear to show he shared information on investment opportunities in gold and uranium in Afghanistan with the convicted sex offender.
- As a trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, Andrew had privileged access to senior government and business contacts globally.
- Trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive commercial or political information from official visits.
- A woman alleges she was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew at his residence, Royal Lodge, in 2010.
- The woman, who was in her 20s at the time and not British, alleges she was given tea and a tour of Buckingham Palace afterward.
- Andrew has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing on matters related to Jeffrey Epstein.
- The investigation includes both sexual allegations and misconduct in public life.
- The King's brother has been arrested by British police—a deeply damaging moment for the monarchy.
- The royal family has previously cut ties, removing Andrew's titles and distancing themselves, having issued two statements about their thoughts with Epstein's victims.
- Lucy Manning reports there are 'unanswered questions for the royal family' and many feel 'more needs to be said'.
- Andrew remains deeply connected to the family, residing on the Sandringham estate.
- The Prime Minister stated 'nobody is above the law' when asked about Andrew but declined to say whether he should volunteer to UK police.
- Liam Byrne's Business and Trade Committee will meet next Tuesday to decide whether to take the investigation forward.
- MPs are taking the allegations 'acutely seriously' and are 'not in the market for letting anything slip through the cracks'.
KEY QUOTES
"The BBC understands that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office."
"It is a serious charge and it does involve people who were in positions of authority misusing their office either for criminal or personal gain." - Lucy Manning
"Nobody is above the law." - The Prime Minister
"It is fairly astonishing really that a member of the royal family—the king's brother—has been arrested by British police."
"MPs are not in the market for letting anything slip through the cracks." - Liam Byrne
"Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing on the matters of the links with Jeffrey Epstein to do with sexual matters."
Prince Andrew
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Jeffrey Epstein
royal family arrest
misconduct in public office
UK police
Thames Valley Police
national security leak
trade envoy scandal
Epstein files
Buckingham Palace
Royal Lodge
Sandringham estate
sex allegations
UK monarchy crisis
US Department of Justice documents