LONDON, United Kingdom – King Charles III took the unusual step on Thursday of issuing and personally signing a public statement addressing the arrest of his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, underscoring the gravity of the moment for the British royal family.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with his relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He has been released under investigation and has not been charged. He has consistently denied wrongdoing.
In a statement signed “Charles R,” the king said there must be a “full, fair and proper” investigation and emphasised that “the law must take its course.”
He added that the investigation would have the royal family’s “full and wholehearted support and co-operation,” while saying that he and his family would “continue in our duty and service to you all.”
It is rare for the monarch to address matters involving his brother so directly or to sign such statements personally rather than issuing them through Buckingham Palace.
Arrest and Context
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of the king and son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, was arrested on Thursday, February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. British police have said the investigation is ongoing.
The former prince has previously faced intense scrutiny over allegations brought by Virginia Giuffre, who said she was sexually abused by him when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor reached a legal settlement with Giuffre for an undisclosed amount in 2021 while denying the allegation.
Public Confidence and the Monarchy
The arrest comes at a time when public support for the monarchy has declined since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Polling by the National Centre for Social Research has shown a long-term drop in the proportion of Britons who regard the monarchy as important.
Craig Prescott, a constitutional law specialist at Royal Holloway, University of London, said the arrest marked an exceptional moment.
“It’s an extraordinary moment, unprecedented in modern times, for the brother of the king to be arrested for a serious criminal offense,” he said, adding that he could not think of a close parallel.
Royal historians have searched for precedent, with some pointing to the arrest of King Charles I in the 17th century, a case that ended in his execution for treason.
In modern times, there has been no comparable arrest of a senior royal.
In 2002, Princess Anne, the king’s sister, was convicted under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her dog injured two children, but she was not arrested and the offence carried far less serious legal consequences.
Efforts to Distance the Royal Family
The royal family has taken steps in recent years to distance itself from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as details of his association with Epstein emerged. He stepped back from public duties in 2019.
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II removed many of his patronages and military affiliations. Last year, he was stripped of his princely title and required to leave his official residence.
Ed Owens, a royal historian and author, said the arrest represented a significant challenge early in King Charles’s reign, describing it as an event that had created a major problem for the new monarch.
As the investigation proceeds, the king’s decision to speak directly and personally has highlighted the seriousness with which the palace is treating the matter, at a time when the actions of one family member have raised broader constitutional and reputational questions for the monarchy.
