Law Must Take Its Course, King Charles Says, As UK Police Arrest His Brother Andrew

King Charles III said he learned “with the deepest concern” of the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, his younger brother, and stressed that “the law must take its course.”

The Police on Thursday arrested the younger brother of King Charles Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to Jeffrey Epstein.

The Police have released Andrew but said the investigation continues.

However, in an earlier statement, King Charles said, “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office.

“What Now follows the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.
In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”

“As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all,” he added.

Andrew, who turned 66 on Thursday, was arrested and questioned by detectives from Thames Valley Police, who this month said it was looking into allegations that he had passed documents to the late convicted sex offender while working as a trade envoy.

Andrew has made history, albeit the wrong way, as he becomes the first senior royal to have been arrested in this manner, and presents his elder brother with the biggest scandal of his reign.

Reacting to the development, the King, in a statement, said, “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office, adding that the authorities had the royals’ “full and wholehearted support and cooperation”.

The King said further, “The law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”

Thames Valley’s Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement that “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.

“We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”

Andrew, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, said he regretted his friendship with Epstein. He, however, has not responded to requests for comment since the latest U.S. government mass release of documents. Mountbatten-Windsor’s office also did not respond.

British media published pictures of six unmarked police cars and around eight plain-clothed officers who arrived at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in eastern England, where Mountbatten-Windsor now lives.

The Police are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk, as well as at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, where Andrew lived until recently.

It comes after Thames Valley Police said they were assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

While an arrest means police have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed and that the person is suspected of involvement in an offence, it does not imply guilt.

A conviction for misconduct in a public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and must be dealt with in a Crown Court, which only deals with the most serious criminal offences.

In 2022, the former prince settled a civil lawsuit brought in the United States by the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager. The police investigation is not related to this or any other allegation of sexual impropriety.

Andrew was forced to quit all official royal duties in 2019 over his ties to Epstein and was then stripped of his titles and honours by his older brother last October amid further revelations about their relationship.

Mountbatten-Windsor had been reported to police by the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic following the release of more than 3 million pages of documents relating to Epstein, who was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.

Those files suggested Mountbatten-Windsor had, in 2010, forwarded to Epstein reports about Vietnam, Singapore and other places he had visited on official trips