Former prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been released from police custody after an arrest that sent shockwaves around the world.
The brother of King Charles had been under increasing scrutiny over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, particularly after the release of the so-called Epstein files over the last two months.
A batch of documents released as part of the latest drop last month unearthed emails between Andrew and the disgraced financier that prompted authorities to take a closer look.
On Thursday UK police took Mr Mountbatten Windsor into custody on what happened to be his 66th birthday.
Here is what we know about the arrest, the police investigation, and the reaction.
Why was former prince Andrew arrested?
Mr Mountbatten Windsor was arrested at his home at about 8am Thursday morning, local time.
Without naming the former prince, Thames Valley Police said the arrest was made "on suspicion of misconduct in public office".
[ARREST LOCATION MAP]Police did not reveal the specifics of the allegations against the man but said they searched addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
That indicates they looked at Andrew's former home at Royal Lodge in Windsor and his new one at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
He was forced to leave his sprawling 30-room mansion last year and was stripped of his title by King Charles over his connection with Epstein.
What are the allegations against him?
The Thames Valley Police did not detail the specifics of their investigation.
But the arrest comes after questions were raised about whether the former prince had shared sensitive information with Epstein while working as a representative of the British government.
As well as being a member of the royal family, Mr Mountbatten Windsor served as the UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.
Documents recently released by the US Department of Justice included several emails from 2010 that indicated Mr Mountbatten Windsor had forwarded information he obtained in his role to Epstein.
Representatives from Thames Valley Police confirmed last week that they were looking into allegations "relating to misconduct in public office" that emerged from the Epstein files.
Mr Mountbatten Windsor has not yet publicly addressed the document-sharing allegations but has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
Why was Andrew trade envoy?
The former prince's brief was to promote British trade interests abroad. As part of the role he travelled extensively and had contact with government and business officials around the world.
Andrew's appointment as a "trade envoy" was reportedly opposed by his brother, but pushed through by Queen Elizabeth and then-prime minister Tony Blair.
But Andrew faced scrutiny over his suitability for the job and, later, his profligate spending while he was in the role.
At about that time the British press dubbed him "Air Miles Andy" over reports of his luxe travel arrangements — including a $180,000 charge for a private jet to the United States in 2008 and $40,000 in hotel bills from a trip to Switzerland in 2009.
He stepped down from the role in 2011 over his connections to Epstein.
Has former prince Andrew been charged?
It's important to note that Mr Mountbatten Windsor has not been charged with anything.
Police released him from police custody after about 10 hours of questioning.
Thames Valley Police said the searches in Norfolk had concluded but searches were still being conducted in Berkshire.
Police are continuing to search his former mansion on the Windsor Estate.
The investigation is ongoing.
What does 'misconduct in public office' mean?
The offence of misconduct in public office is the "serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held".
The Crown Prosecution Service, which decides on whether a charge has the potential to lead to a successful prosecution, says these elements are among the criteria needed to charge someone:
- There must be a direct link between the misconduct and an abuse of those powers or responsibilities
- The person must have "wilfully" neglected to perform their duty and/or misconducted themselves to such an extent that it abused the public's trust in the office held
- Their actions must have been done without reasonable excuse or justification
The offence, which dates back centuries in the UK, can carry a life sentence.
Are there other police investigations into Andrew?
At least nine separate UK police forces have confirmed they are assessing reports appearing to link the former prince to Epstein.
"[It's] an unprecedented number all looking into one suspect at the same time," journalist Emily Matliss told Radio National Breakfast.
Those police forces are based right across the UK, including at Essex, south of Norfolk, where he was arrested, as well as Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Wiltshire, the West Midlands and in Scotland.
Thames Valley Police, which covers Windsor in Berkshire, where Mr Mountbatten Windsor used to live, is the force that made Thursday's arrest.
Separately, Surrey Police — a different force — has appealed for information relating to reports in the Epstein files, although its statement did not name any suspects.
Essex Police has also said it is looking into information in the Epstein files regarding flights in and out of a major airport based in the county.
"We are assessing information that has emerged in relation to private flights into and out of Stansted Airport following the publication of the US DoJ Epstein files," its statement read.
What has King Charles and the government said about Andrew?
The king released a statement on Thursday saying he had learnt of his brother's arrest with the "deepest concern" and that he would cooperate with any investigation.
"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," he said.
"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.
"Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all."
In the morning, before Andrew's arrest, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was asked whether the former prince should voluntarily speak to UK police regarding the Epstein allegations.
"I think that's a matter for the police," he said.
"They will conduct their own investigations, but one of the core principles in our system is that everybody is equal under the law and nobody is above the law, and it is really important that that is applied across the board."
