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Royal Scandal Deepens as King’s Brother Faces Misconduct Charges on His 66th Birthday
Published February 19, 2026 | berndpulch.org
DEVELOPING: Former Prince Taken into Custody
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested Thursday morning at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the BBC and multiple news outlets have confirmed .
The arrest occurred just after 8:00 AM on the former Duke of York’s 66th birthday. Witnesses reported seeing approximately eight plain-clothed officers and six unmarked police vehicles arrive at Wood Farm, the cottage where Andrew has been living since being evicted from Royal Lodge last year .
Thames Valley Police confirmed in a statement: “As part of the investigation, we have today arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. The man remains in police custody at this time” .
Under British law, police did not name the suspect, but the details provided match what is known about the public misconduct allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor .
The Charge: Misconduct in Public Office
The arrest stems from accusations that Andrew shared confidential government documents with Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment between 2010 and 2011 .
According to the Crown Prosecution Service, misconduct in public office refers to a “serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held” by the individual . Four factors must be considered:
ยท A public officer, acting as such
ยท Wilfully neglects to perform their duty or wilfully misconducts themselves
ยท To such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust
ยท Without reasonable excuse or justification
If convicted, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment .
The investigation was triggered by complaints from Republic, a British anti-monarchy group, following the January 30 release of 3.5 million pages of DOJ Epstein files . The group accused Andrew of “suspected misconduct in public office and breach of official secrets” .
New Evidence from DOJ Files
A tranche of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Jan. 30 included emails suggesting Andrew may have shared confidential materials when working as a trade envoy .
In one email, Andrew appears to forward to Epstein official reports about visits he made as envoy to South Asia in 2010 that were sent to him by his assistant .
The anti-monarchy group Republic formally reported the issue to police, claiming a violation of the Official Secrets Act. Trade envoys must keep details about their trips confidentialโeven after they are no longer in post .
Police are also investigating allegations that Epstein brought women into the UK to have sexual encounters with the former prince .
King Charles Responds: “The Law Must Take Its Course”
In an unprecedented personal statement signed “Charles R,” the King addressed his brother’s arrest directly :
“I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. 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. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation.
Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”
The statement was striking because it addressed the British public directly and was signed by Charles personally instead of being issued by Buckingham Palace .
In a separate statement on Feb. 9, before the police investigation was announced, Buckingham Palace had said that if approached by police “we stand ready to support them as you would expect” .
Political Fallout: “Nobody Is Above the Law”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the arrest on BBC Breakfast, emphasizing that “everybody is equal under the law” . He added that anyone with information about the Epstein scandal has a “duty to come forward” .
The prime minister stated: “I think that’s a matter for the police. 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” .
The arrest comes just one week after new revelations about Epstein roiled the top ranks of Britain’s political establishment, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Starmer’s chief of staff and communications director over their ties to Peter Mandelson .
The Long Shadow: Previous Allegations
Andrew has faced years of accusations related to Epstein. In 2022, he paid Virginia Giuffre an undisclosed settlement (reportedly ยฃ12 million, or $16.3 million) to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he raped and sexually abused her when she was 17 . Andrew did not admit to any of Ms. Giuffre’s accusations in the settlement statement .
Giuffre alleged that Epstein trafficked her to Andrew around 2001, when she was a teenager, and that he had sex with her multiple times at Maxwell’s London home, Epstein’s New York residence, and on Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands .
Andrew has consistently and strenuously denied all wrongdoing .
OTHER ROYALS AND BRITISH ELITE IN THE EPSTEIN FILES
Andrew is not the only member of the British elite caught up in the Epstein files. The January 30 DOJ release put a harsh spotlight on several prominent figures .
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, was revealed to have carried on a long and personal correspondence with Epstein long after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution .
Key email revelations include:
ยท 2009 email: Epstein suggested he paid for flights for “the Duchess and the girls from Heathrow to Miami,” an apparent reference to travel for Ferguson and her daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice .
ยท 2010 email: Ferguson called Epstein “a legend,” adding, “I really don’t have the words to describe my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness. Xx I am at your service. Just marry me” .
ยท Epstein also urged Ferguson to help improve his public image, suggesting she release a statement asserting he was “not a pedo” โthough there is no evidence she did so .
In 2011, Ferguson admitted Epstein helped pay off her debts and apologized for her “terrible error of judgment” in having anything to do with him. However, the new files show she continued to exchange emails with Epstein after that admission .
Ferguson’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment since the new files were released .
Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson, a senior Labour Party figure and former British ambassador to the United States, is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police over accusations that he leaked confidential and market-sensitive information to Epstein while serving in government .
Emails released by the DOJ show Mandelson:
ยท Forwarded an internal economic memo to Epstein
ยท Shared information about a European Union bailout vote
The new files suggest a longstanding friendship between the two, undercutting Mandelson’s claims that he barely knew Epstein . Analysis suggests Mandelson continued to stay at Epstein’s properties in New York, and possibly in Paris, after the 2008 prostitution conviction .
Prime Minister Starmer fired Mandelson last September after an earlier batch of files showed a close relationship. Starmer has said Mandelson lied about the extent of that friendship .
Mandelson is not accused of sexual misconduct and told the BBC he only ever saw “middle-aged housekeepers” at Epstein’s properties. He denies any criminal wrongdoing .
The scandal forced the resignation of Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, and Tim Allan, the prime minister’s communications director .
Ghislaine Maxwell
Though not a royal, Ghislaine Maxwell is a former British socialite and the daughter of British media magnate Robert Maxwell. She is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence on sex-trafficking charges as Epstein’s longtime companion and primary coconspirator .
Disturbing New Allegations: Electric Shock Torture Claim
In a separate development from the Epstein files, Andrew has been accused of watching a young girl, aged between six and eight years old, being subjected to electric shock torture .
An FBI report from July 2020 details allegations of sexual abuse involving Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in Surrey during the mid-1990s . The claim, originating from an anonymous tip-off, asserts that the electric shocks were administered at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, Berkshire, and that other men observed alongside Andrew .
The allegation suggests the girl was restrained on a table and “tortured with electrical shocks” by Maxwell .
Surrey Police confirmed they became aware of a redacted report alleging historic human trafficking and sexual assaults on a minor in Virginia Water village between 1994 and 1996. However, after reviewing their systems, they found no evidence of the allegations being reported to them .
The force encourages anyone with information to come forward, stating: “We take all reports of child and sexual abuse seriously and therefore, as with any other matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention, including any information resulting from the release of materials in the US, we will assess it” .
Andrew has consistently denied all wrongdoing and accusations against him .
Legal Context: The Misconduct Charge
The charge of misconduct in public office is created by judges and laid down by courts over many years, meaning Parliament has never set a maximum punishment . Legal expert Joshua Rozenberg told Sky News the choice of charges was “unusual” for this reason .
The British government is in the process of replacing this charge with a new law, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which is going through Parliament . The bill imposes a duty on public authorities and officials to act with candor, transparency, and frankness, making it an offense to mislead or act unethically with the public .
What Happens Next
Under British law, police cannot typically hold suspects for more than 24 hours without being formally charged. They can be held for a maximum of 96 hours, but only if a court grants an extension .
Because the case is now legally active, British authorities have warned that “care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court” under a 1981 law that forbids publishing material creating a “substantial risk” that justice “will be seriously impeded or prejudiced” .
The British government has agreed to release thousands of internal government documents relating to Mandelson’s vetting and appointment as ambassador, which could be released any day .
Database Context
This breaking news aligns with data in the Epstein Index, which currently tracks:
Category Count
Total Unique Individuals 39,847
Total Unique Organizations 10,626
Total Entities 50,473
Pages Reviewed 3,500,000+
Prince Andrew currently ranks #11 in the Top 200 Most Cited Names in the Epstein Files .
ACCESS THE FULL DATABASE
This article is based on breaking news and preliminary analysis. For complete documentation of all individuals mentioned, including source-linked citations from the DOJ releases:
๐ Free public excerpts: https://berndpulch.org
๐ Full database with source verification: https://patreon.com/berndpulch
DISCLAIMER
This article is compiled from publicly available sources for research and educational purposes. All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law. Inclusion in this article does not imply wrongdoing. Many appear as witnesses or in passing. Victim privacy is paramount.
Last Updated: February 19, 2026
Total Entities in Full Database: 50,473 (39,847 Individuals โข 10,626 Organizations)
Bernd Pulch (M.A.) is a forensic expert, founder of Aristotle AI, entrepreneur, political commentator, satirist, and investigative journalist covering lawfare, media control, investment, real estate, and geopolitics. His work examines how legal systems are weaponized, how capital flows shape policy, how artificial intelligence concentrates power, and what democracy loses when courts and markets become battlefields. Active in the German and international media landscape, his analyses appear regularly on this platform.
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