Former Prince Andrew of England arrested for his connection to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein

LondonA spectacular change of course in the investigation into the links between Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Jeffrey EpsteinOn the day King Charles III's brother turns 66, police entered his Sandringham residence this morning and arrested the former Prince of England, the third child of Queen Elizabeth II and, despite everything, still eighth in line to the throne. Six unmarked vehicles and about eight plainclothes officers, one of whom was carrying a laptop, arrived at Wood Farm, on the estate where the monarch's brother lives, shortly after 8 a.m. this Thursday. Police have been assessing the allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor that have surfaced. from the analysis of Jeffrey Epstein's files Published by the US Department of Justice, including accusations that he shared critical government information with the pedophile when he was the UK's trade envoy.

The arrest, carried out by Thames Valley Police, is for alleged misconduct in the performance of public duties. The news is devastating for the British monarchy. Just ten days ago, Buckingham Palace issued a statement assuring that it would cooperate fully, "as it should be," with any ongoing investigation.

And four hours later, at noon, came the reaction from Charles III. In a relatively brief statement, without directly addressing his relationship to the detainee, the monarch asserted: "I learned with the deepest concern of the news concerning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the suspicion of misconduct in the exercise of a public office. What follows now is the full, fair, and proper process, through which this matter, as I have said before, has our full support and our sincere cooperation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course."

From the publication by the Department of Justice Of the more than 3.5 million documents in the Epstein files, the investigations surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have taken a decisive turn by focusing not only on the well-known allegations of sexual abuse and trafficking of women. linked to Virginia Giuffrebut especially in the revelations that have emerged from the extensive review of these files. The documents contain a series of emails that suggest the king's brother may have used his official position as the UK's trade envoy to systematically share confidential government reports with Epstein. One of the most compromising cases under examination details how, after returning from an official trip to Asia, the former prince allegedly received detailed reports on the countries visited and, according to the digital records, forwarded them to Epstein just two minutes after receiving them. This possible unauthorized transfer of official information is what has given rise to the police investigation into alleged misconduct in the performance of his public duties, among other reasons because it would indicate a deliberate misuse of state resources and documents to benefit a private communication channel with the American financier. The discovery and analysis of the documentation has put increasing pressure on the already tarnished image of the king's brother. The revelations prove their continued lies in her BBC television interview from late 2019especially regarding his level of friendship with the financier and details about his contacts with victims of abuse and sex trafficking. The gravity of the situation for former Prince Andreu, and by extension for the Crown, due to an alleged cover-up, whether by action or omission, is reflected in the simultaneous searches carried out at his Norfolk residence and the Royal Lodge in Berkshire. Officers will most likely confiscate computer equipment, files, and photographs that could serve as documentary evidence of his activities.

Conversations with the Prosecution

According to information that is being released practically in real time in parallel with the arrest, police officers have already held conversations with different specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service. Yesterday, West Midlands Police confirmed they were analyzing private flights arriving at and departing from Birmingham and Stansted airports for potential sex trafficking offenses. Surrey Police have also urged anyone with information to come forward regarding allegations of the same crime and sexual assaults from the 1990s documented in Epstein's files.

The deputy chief constable of Thames Valley Police issued a statement saying: "Following a thorough assessment, we have opened an investigation into the allegation of misconduct in a public office. It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate the case, and we will provide updates as appropriate." The former prince's name is not mentioned, a standard formal procedure, but this cannot conceal the identity of the person arrested.

The arrest of a member of the British royal family is unprecedented. The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor marks an unprecedented turning point in the modern history of the British monarchy, as it represents the detention of the closest relative of a monarch since the trial of Charles I in the 17th century. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may initially be held for 24 hours while the police conduct various searches. This period could be extended to 96 hours. Although the suspect has always denied any wrongdoing, despite the growing body of evidence, the charge of misconduct in public office is extremely broad and can carry very severe penalties, including life imprisonment in the most serious cases of treason. Currently, nine different police forces are investigating ramifications of human trafficking and other inappropriate conduct, and the case is now entering an active judicial phase that opens the door to a possible public trial that could shake the foundations of the royal institution. According to legal experts analyzing the situation in the British media, police are not always obligated to arrest a suspect. Often, a "voluntary interview" by appointment is an option. However, in the case of the former Duke of York, the authorities decided that an arrest was necessary. This decision suggests that the investigation has moved beyond the preliminary stages of gathering statements and now requires stricter controls to access key evidence, such as computer equipment and documents. It is speculated that the British government and senior police officials were informed of this operation beforehand, given its scale and significance. "It is inconceivable that an action of this magnitude could have slipped under the government's radar," sources close to the case told the BBC. In the last two weeks, following the new revelations in the Epstein case, even King Charles III has been publicly booed on two occasions.