Reuters on Thursday evening reported that King Charles’ younger brother, now styled as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was released from police custody after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to Jeffrey Epstein.
The felony charge carried as maximum life prison sen
Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday, had been questioned all day by detectives from Thames Valley Police. Earlier this month, the police force said it was looking into allegations that he had passed documents to Epstein, a convicted sex offender, while an official UK envoy.
According to Reuters:
“The arrest of the senior royal, eighth in line to the throne, is unprecedented in modern times.
“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.
A Reuters witness saw Prince Andrew leaving a police station in Aylsham, eastern England, where he was met by a small group of photographers and television crews, just after 1900 GMT.”
A Reuters photograph taken after his release shows him seated inside a car, appearing visibly shaken.
Thames Valley Police said later on Thursday that “the arrested man” had been “released under investigation.”
Greek interest
The case has also massive interest in Greece, given that Andrews father, the late Prince Phillip was born to the Greek royal family on the island of Corfu. His brother, King Charles, is also frequent visitor to Greece, at one point famously sporting a tie with the Greek flag motif.
File photo: Andrew when he still had the royal title of prince.
