Bombay Durpun - UK police arrest ex-prince Andrew in historic blow to royal family

The arrest of a royal family member is unprecedented in Britain's modern era, and within hours King Charles III issued a rare personally signed statement insisting "the law must take its course".

It was a humiliating new blow for the ousted prince, who was last year stripped of his titles, and was marking his 66th birthday Thursday in custody.

"I'm pleased ... he deserves that," lawyer Emma Carter, 55, told AFP in London. "He's been hiding behind his privileges... for too many years."

Police said they were also searching two properties, with the BBC reporting one was Andrew's former home, Royal Lodge, on the monarchy's Windsor estate west of London.

The other was his residence since the start of this month on the king's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, where his arrest occurred, according to British media.

Widely-published images showed a fleet of unmarked cars, believed to be police vehicles, arriving there early Thursday.

"We have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office," Thames Valley police said, without naming the suspect, as is common practice in the UK.

"The man remains in police custody at this time," the force added.

Andrew's ties to convicted US sex offender Epstein have caused a spectacular years-long fall from grace.

His arrest follows new revelations last week that the ex-prince appeared to have sent potentially confidential documents during his time as a UK trade envoy.

- 'Concern' -

In a November 2010 email seen by AFP, Andrew appeared to share with Epstein reports on several Asian countries following an official visit to the region.

The ex-royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, also allegedly sent the American financier details of the trip -- on which he was accompanied by Epstein's business associates -- along with investment opportunities months later.

Charles last year stripped his brother of his titles and ordered he leave his Windsor mansion -- though he does remain eighth in the line of succession to the British throne.

In his statement, the king reiterated he had learned of the latest claims "with the deepest concern" and that a "full, fair and proper process" investigated "in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities" would follow.

"In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation," he added. "Let me state clearly: the law must take its course."

Charles last year ousted Andrew after one of Epstein's accusers, Virginia Giuffre, claimed in shocking detail in her posthumous memoirs that she had been trafficked to have sex with Andrew when she was a teenager.

The Giuffre family welcomed Andrew's arrest Thursday, saying "our broken hearts have been lifted at the news", adding "he was "never a prince".

He has previously denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein.

Andrew settled a US civil lawsuit in 2022 brought by Giuffre while not admitting liability.

He served as a British trade envoy for a decade from 2001.

Official guidance stipulates trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive, commercial or political information related to their official visits, the BBC has said.

- 'Strong message' -

Misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Before news of Andrew's arrest broke, Prime Minister Keir Starmer had said "nobody is above the law" .

The ex-prince is deeply unpopular with the British public, and many welcomed his arrest.

It was not immediately clear where Andrew had been taken to. Under UK law he can be held for 24 hours without charge, after which the police must apply to the courts for a custody extension.

At least nine UK police forces have confirmed they are assessing claims stemming from the Epstein files, many related to Andrew.

It follows the US justice department's latest release of millions of files from its investigation into the US financier, who was awaiting trial for sex trafficking when he died in prison in 2019.

London's Metropolitan police has also launched an investigation into the relationship between the UK's former ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, and the disgraced financier.

P.Mueller--BD