Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable, Oliver Wright, said in a statement: “We understand the significant public interest in this case and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.
“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.
“It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence.”
Starmer: nobody is above the law
Speaking before the arrest was confirmed, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was pressed on Mountbatten-Windsor’s case, and told the BBC “nobody is above the law.”
The prime minister has repeatedly urged for the royal, who was stripped of his prince title by King Charles III last year, to testify before the U.S. Congress as it investigates the Epstein scandal.
In 2019, Mountbatten-Windsor was accused in a civil lawsuit of sexually assaulting Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers, but he denied all allegations.
Starmer stressed “anybody who’s got relevant information should come forward to whatever the relevant body is.” But he would not be drawn on whether the police should be involved as “they will conduct their own investigations.”
This developing story is being updated.