Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest impacts the royal family in both a negative and positive way, according to one royal expert.
“There hasn’t been a fallout that merges politics with personal like this for the royals in decades,” royal historian Gareth Russell told Us Weekly exclusively on Thursday, February 19. “On the one hand, it’s an embarrassment for them.”
However, Russell also noted that “it’s vindication” for Queen Camilla and Prince William who apparently felt that “harsher action should have been taken” against Andrew previously.
“It’ll be hard to know where to put this in the history of royal scandals until it’s over,” Russell continued. “Andrew’s arrest is an enormous scandal by any standards. Without question, it’s the biggest scandal in the last century.”
News broke on Thursday that Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office at his Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. (Thursday marked the former Duke of York’s 66th birthday.)
The U.K.’s Thames Valley Police confirmed that they had “arrested a man in his sixties” on Thursday, but did not identify Andrew per national guidance. Earlier this month, the authorities confirmed to the BBC that they were investigating claims that during his time as a U.K. trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, Andrew had shared confidential information with late billionaire sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. (Epstein died by suicide at age 66 in August 2019.)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested at his Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, on Thursday, February 19 — his 66th birthday. The United Kingdom’s Thames Valley Police confirmed that they had “arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office.” While they did not reveal the suspect’s identity, due to national […]
King Charles III addressed the arrest in a statement obtained with Us Weekly on Thursday, confirming Andrew had been taken into custody.
“I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,” Charles, 77, shared. “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.”
He concluded: “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.”
It was widely reported that Charles was not informed of Andrew’s arrest ahead of time.
“Many feel the royal family should have moved more quickly against Andrew, but there’s already a lot of talk that’s positively comparing what the British royal family have done to an Epstein associate like Andrew compared to the complete inaction from other governments,” Russell stated to Us.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is the first member of the British royal family to be arrested in almost 400 years. Andrew was arrested on his 66th birthday in February 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,” the […]
However, he made it clear that Charles’ statement was “very well-received” by the British public.
“It is an unprecedented statement and it’s also completely unambiguous,” Russell continued. “He was explicitly clear — you could also most hear him speaking out against social media speculation — that he supported the police, he would not interfere, and that the law must have its way.”
David E. Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision PR, also speculated to Us exclusively that the entire royal family is in “crisis mode right now.”
Johnson believes that Charles most likely “suspected” the seriousness of Andrew’s alleged transgressions but did not “fully realize” the “magnitude” of the situation.
“What he’s being arrested for right now isn’t Epstein Island or all the salacious scandals with the girls, he’s leaked government secrets,” Johnson explained. “That’s something I do not believe King Charles ever suspected.”
