Andrew-Epstein row: Will King Charles' brother face prison on his birthday? Charges explained

King Charles' younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on Thursday

Published on: Feb 19, 2026, 20:51:51 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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King Charles' younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on Thursday over suspicion of misconduct in public office stemming from allegations he sent confidential government documents to convicted sex-trafficker and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest took place on the former Prince's 66th birthday. This comes days after Thames Valley Police said that it was investigating allegations against Andrew.

A vehicle outside Royal Lodge, a property on the estate surrounding Windsor Castle and a former residence of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (REUTERS)

King Charles reacts

"I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office," King Charles said in a statement. The 77-year-old added that his family gives ‘full and wholehearted support and cooperation’.

"Let me state clearly: the law must take its course ... Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all," his statement read.

Mountbatten-Windsor's office has not responded to the arrest yet.

Explaining the charges against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

According to police, the recently released Epstein files suggest that Mountbatten-Windsor had in 2010 forwarded to the sex-trafficker reports about Vietnam, Singapore and other places he had visited on official trips as the government's Special Representative for Trade and Investment.

He was forced to step down from that role in 2011 after his close links to Epstein first emerged.

"Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office," Thames Valley's 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."

Will Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor face prison?

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, misconduct in public office is linked to the serious abuse or neglect of power or responsibilities. It carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Virginia Giuffre's family reacts

Virginia Giuffre, who settled a civil lawsuit with the former prince in 2022, had accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager. The current investigation is not related to these allegations.

"Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty," the family of Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, said in a statement.

King Charles had stripped his younger brother of his royal titles last year over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

(With inputs from Reuters)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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