British police have arrested Prince Andrew—now referred to in several official and media reports as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a development that has intensified scrutiny of the disgraced royal’s past links to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest took place Thursday, February 19, 2026, which was also his 66th birthday, according to multiple outlets and venue reporting.

Thames Valley Police said the investigation involves alleged wrongdoing connected to Andrew’s former role as a UK trade envoy, and officers subsequently carried out searches tied to the probe. Police announced this week that those searches have now concluded.

The core allegation, as reported by Reuters and other major outlets, is that investigators suspect Andrew may have shared confidential government information or documents with Epstein—an accusation Andrew has denied, while also reiterating regret over his association with Epstein.

The case is politically sensitive because misconduct in public office is a serious common-law offence in England and Wales, typically reserved for grave abuses of public trust. Legal analysts note it is also difficult to prosecute, requiring proof that the suspect held public office, wilfully abused or neglected duties, and that the conduct was serious enough to merit criminal sanction. It is an indictable-only offence tried in Crown Court and can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, though sentencing varies widely.

In parallel with the criminal investigation, Britain’s political establishment has moved to increase transparency around Andrew’s former official role. The Associated Press reported that UK lawmakers approved the release of confidential documents related to Andrew’s work as a trade envoy, though some material could remain restricted while police inquiries continue.

Buckingham Palace has not offered any dramatic narrative of “royal civil war,” and there is no verified evidence supporting viral claims that a senior royal “orchestrated” Andrew’s arrest. Public reporting instead points to a widening police inquiry linked to new or newly surfaced material connected to Epstein and to Andrew’s past public duties.

As for speculation about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not issued an official public statement about the arrest. Some entertainment outlets and tabloids have attributed anonymous-source commentary to “people close to” the couple, but those claims are not independently confirmed and should be treated cautiously.

The arrest is the latest escalation in years of reputational fallout for Andrew, who stepped back from public duties in 2019 amid controversy surrounding Epstein and later lost military roles and royal patronages. Now, with a criminal investigation active and lawmakers pushing disclosure, the coming weeks will likely focus less on palace intrigue and more on the evidentiary question at the heart of the case: whether confidential state material was improperly shared, and whether prosecutors believe the threshold for a misconduct charge can be met.