![\"Andrew,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3867.jpg\")
Andrew, left, and Charles leave after the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in London in September last year. Photograph: Joanna Chan\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\nUpdated at\u00a007.50 EST<\/p>\n
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The King has carried on with his duties as monarch in the wake of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s arrest.<\/p>\n
Charles continued with his planned ambassadorial in-person audiences at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He was pictured welcoming the ambassador of El Salvador Francisco Lima Mena as part of a series of audiences at the royal residence.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is \u201cseismic\u201d and has left senior royals in \u201cunchartered waters\u201d, a royal commentator has told the Press Association.<\/p>\n Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the royal family was facing a situation that it was \u201cill-equipped to navigate\u201d.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n The arrest of the eighth in line to the British throne is seismic.<\/p>\n Senior royals are now in unchartered waters that they are ill-equipped to navigate.<\/p>\n They will have to answer questions about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and be held accountable, something which, up until now, has been an alien concept for them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Responding to news of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s arrest, former prime minister Gordon Brown said:<\/p>\n I have submitted a five-page memorandum to the Metropolitan, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and other relevant UK police constabularies.<\/p>\n This memorandum provides new and additional information to that which I submitted last week to the Met, Essex and Thames Valley police forces where I expressed my concern that we secure justice for trafficked girls and women.<\/p>\n Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown is seen during the two-year anniversary event for the Homewards programme in Sheffield. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n The Scottish first minister John Swinney has spoken on the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.<\/p>\n Speaking to media in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, he said:<\/p>\n The announcement in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor obviously relates to a live case and I don\u2019t think it would be appropriate for me to comment upon that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Following his arrest this morning, it is expected that the King\u2019s brother will be interviewed under criminal caution by detectives over the allegations of misconduct in public office.<\/p>\n Police will have to decide whether Mountbatten-Windsor is detained overnight, whether they have enough to charge him with a criminal offence, whether they decide to take no further action, or whether they release him while their inquiries continue.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Police searches of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s former home at the Royal Lodge, in Windsor, are ongoing.<\/p>\n Officers can be seen at the gates of the sprawling property, while the press are being kept at an outer entrance.<\/p>\n A police spokesperson at the scene confirmed that the search is ongoing within the property.<\/p>\n Walkers and families are continuing to walk through the surrounding Windsor Great Park.<\/p>\n Members of the media outside Royal Lodge, the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in Windsor, Berkshire. Photograph: Stanley Murphy-Johns\/PAShare<\/a>Prince and Princess of Wales ‘support the King’s statement’, PA reports<\/p>\n The Prince and Princess of Wales support the King\u2019s statement following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Press Association understands.<\/p>\n King Charles had said \u201cthe law must take its course\u201d after expressing his \u201cdeepest concern\u201d over the arrest of his younger brother (see post 12.05<\/a>).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Deputy prime minister David Lammy has said \u201cnobody in this country is above the law\u201d and that the police investigation \u201cmust happen in the usual way\u201d.<\/p>\n Speaking to BBC News at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, he said:<\/p>\n As justice secretary – and as the prime minister has said – nobody in this country is above the law.<\/p>\n And this is now a police investigation and that must happen in the usual way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Police did not give King advance notice of Mountbatten-Windsor arrest, reports PA<\/p>\n The Press Association is reporting that neither King Charles nor Buckingham Palace was informed in advance of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s arrest.<\/p>\n Charles said earlier today that it was with \u201cdeepest concern\u201d he had learnt about the arrest of his younger brother, the former Prince Andrew.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.13 EST<\/p>\n King Charles: Police ‘have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation’<\/p>\n King Charles has said \u201cthe law must take its course\u201d after expressing his \u201cdeepest concern\u201d over the arrest of his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.<\/p>\n In a statement, the monarch said:<\/p>\n I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is 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.<\/p>\n Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Andrew, left, and Charles leave after the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in London in September last year. Photograph: Joanna Chan\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.50 EST<\/p>\n The Queen has arrived for an engagement in Westminster just hours after police confirmed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.<\/p>\n Wearing a velvet, navy coat, Camilla was greeted by representatives of Sinfonia Smith Square where she will attend a lunchtime orchestral concert, PA reports.<\/p>\n Queen Camilla during her visit to Sinfonia Smith Square Hall in London. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.13 EST<\/p>\n Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s arrest comes days after Buckingham Palace said it would \u201cstand ready to support\u201d the police if approached over the claims made against him.<\/p>\n A spokesman for the Palace added that the King had made clear his \u201cprofound concern\u201d over Andrew\u2019s alleged conduct.<\/p>\n The King\u2019s brother is effectively no longer a royal, becoming a commoner after he was stripped by the monarch of both his right to be a prince and his dukedom late last year over his association with Epstein.<\/p>\n He does, however, remain in the line of succession – he is eighth in line to the throne, having gradually moved down after being born second in line.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Giuffre family: Mountbatten-Windsor arrest proves ‘no one is above the law’<\/p>\n Virginia Giuffre\u2019s family have this morning said in a statement that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s arrest shows that \u201cno one is above the law\u201d.<\/p>\n Giuffre was one of the most prominent victims of the disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> who also alleged she had been sexually trafficked to Prince Andrew<\/a>.<\/p>\n She took her own life in April 2025<\/a>, aged 41.<\/p>\n The statement reads:<\/p>\n At last, today our broken hearts have been lifted with the news that no one is above the law \u2013 not even royalty.<\/p>\n On behalf of our sister, we extend our gratitude to the UK\u2019s Thames Valley Police in their investigation and arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.<\/p>\n He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you.<\/p>\n Undated handout file screengrab issued by Crime+Investigation of Virginia Giuffre. Photograph: Crime+Investigation\/PAShare<\/a>What is misconduct in public office and what is the punishment?<\/p>\n According to the Crown Prosecution Service\u2019s (CPS) website, misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.<\/p>\n It describes the offence as \u201ca common law offence that can be tried only on indictment\u201d and \u201cconcerns serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held\u201d.<\/p>\n Providing its own update on the investigation into Epstein and his associates in the UK, the CPS said:<\/p>\n We are in close contact with the Metropolitan Police Service and Thames Valley Police regarding high-profile individuals.<\/p>\n We remain ready to support any police investigations if needed.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Norfolk Constabulary has told BBC News that it is \u201csupporting a Thames Valley Police investigation into misconduct in a public office\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"Vikram](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vikram_Dodd,_L.png\")
Vikram Dodd<\/p>\n