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He stands as the first senior British royal in modern times to face police arrest. Discover the journey of how he transitioned from a military career to a controversial figure on the global stage.
LONDON, UK — Once thought to be Queen Elizabeth II’s favored child, former Prince Andrew has frequently posed challenges for the British monarchy.
On his 66th birthday, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was taken into custody on Thursday, suspected of misconduct in public office. This investigation is linked to his associations with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. His arrest marks an unprecedented event in recent royal history, as no senior British royal has been detained by authorities before.
Born in 1960, Prince Andrew was the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. With his older brother Charles destined for kingship, Andrew embarked on a well-trodden path for royal siblings: a career in the military.
Andrew’s history filled with royal riches
For 22 years, he served in the Royal Navy, where he participated in combat as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War. In 2001, Andrew was appointed as Britain’s special representative for international trade and investment, a role that further expanded his public profile.
After 22 years in the Royal Navy, including combat operations as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War, Andrew was named Britain’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001.
Why was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested?
The current police investigation stems from that period. It follows documents in recently released Epstein files that suggest Andrew passed on official government documents to the late financier when he was a trade envoy. The former prince has not been charged with a crime. He has long denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links.
Mountbatten-Windsor was forced to step down from the trade role in 2011 amid growing concern about his friendship with Epstein, who had been sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 after pleading guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Once a subject of media fascination for his love life, the man the tabloids dubbed “Randy Andy” became a regular source of headlines because of his money woes and links to questionable characters, including Epstein, the American financier and convicted sex offender.
After Epstein was arrested again in 2019, Andrew gave a disastrous interview to the BBC’s Newsnight program, in which he tried to explain away his contacts with Epstein. It backfired – he was widely criticized for giving unbelievable explanations and for failing to show empathy for Epstein’s victims.
Amid the backlash, Andrew announced on Nov. 20, 2019, that he was giving up public duties and charity roles “for the foreseeable future.”
In August 2021, one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre, sued Andrew in a New York court, alleging that the prince had sex with her when she was underage. Andrew denied the allegations, but he was stripped of all military affiliations and royal charity work.
Andrew ultimately settled the case for an undisclosed sum. While he didn’t admit wrongdoing, Andrew did acknowledge Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking. Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, aged 41.
That was not the end of the story. After emails emerged last year showing Andrew remained in contact with Epstein longer than he previously claimed, King Charles III stripped his brother of his princely title and other honors and his home at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Now he is also in police custody.
He remains eighth in line to the British throne.
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