Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew)
British Royal / Former Naval Officer · British · Arrested Feb 19, 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office — released under investigation, no
Andrew met Jeffrey Epstein in the early 1990s, reportedly through Ghislaine Maxwell. He visited Epstein's properties on multiple documented occasions, including Epstein's Manhattan townhouse after Epstein's 2008 conviction. Photographs showing Andrew with his arm around Virginia Giuffre at Maxwell's London home were published and have not been successfully disputed.
In November 2019, Andrew gave a television interview to the BBC that was widely regarded as a public relations disaster. He denied ever meeting Giuffre despite photographic evidence to the contrary and offered explanations that drew widespread scepticism. He was stood down from public royal duties shortly thereafter.
Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew in New York in August 2021. In February 2022, a settlement was reached for an undisclosed sum with no admission of liability. Andrew has not returned to public royal duties and was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages.
On February 19, 2026 — his 66th birthday — Andrew was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a common-law offence carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The arrest followed a January 2026 DOJ document release that included material suggesting he shared confidential UK trade information with Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy (2001–2011). He was the first senior member of the modern British royal family to be arrested. He was released after roughly 11 hours "under investigation," meaning he has been neither charged nor cleared. King Charles III said he had "learned with the deepest concern" of the arrest and that the police "have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation." Andrew had already been stripped of his royal titles in 2025 amid the earlier Epstein scrutiny. Virginia Giuffre's family, reacting to the arrest, said "he was never a prince."
▶ What the Evidence Shows -- Tier 2: Named in Sworn Proceedings
Named in sworn testimony by Virginia Giuffre as having sexually abused her on three separate occasions, including at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse and at Ghislaine Maxwell's London home when she was 17. Witness Johanna Sjoberg gave sworn testimony that Andrew placed his hand on her breast at Epstein's New York mansion in 2001. A photograph appearing to show Andrew with his arm around Giuffre alongside Maxwell has been widely published. In 2022 he settled Giuffre's civil lawsuit, with his legal team stating he "regrets his association with Epstein." UK prosecutor Geoffrey Berman publicly stated Andrew refused to be interviewed by US federal prosecutors. Arrested Feb 19, 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office (distinct from, though arising from the same document releases as, the earlier sexual-abuse allegations). Released under investigation; no charges filed as of this update.
Andrew has repeatedly denied ever having a sexual encounter with Giuffre and has said he cannot recall meeting her. He denied the photograph showed what it appeared to show.