Prince Andrew was questioned by police on Thursday evening. This happened at the Sandringham estate. He was later released while the investigation continues. This is a very surprising event for Britain and the Royal Family. The Duke of York was asked about possible misconduct in public office. These claims relate to his past connection with Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
Thames Valley Police are leading the investigation. They are reportedly looking into claims of sharing secret government papers. It is suggested that Prince Andrew gave important information to Epstein. This happened when the Prince was a trade representative for the UK. Police have searched several places as part of this large inquiry. Prince Andrew has always said he did nothing wrong. He denies any fault in his relationship with Epstein.
This new legal problem makes his reputation worse. Prince Andrew already settled a civil case. That case was about sexual abuse accusations from Virginia Giuffre. He did not admit guilt in that settlement. However, the current investigation is about a different issue. It focuses on his difficult connections.
People close to Buckingham Palace did not know about the arrest. This shows how serious and independent the police action was. King Charles III, Prince Andrew's brother, spoke about the situation. He said, "the law must take its course." The King also said he is very concerned. He supports the police investigation fully.
The investigation is looking into many things. Police are carefully checking many documents. These papers are related to Epstein's network. They might show Prince Andrew shared official reports. These reports were from a trade trip in 2010. Detectives questioned the Prince all day at Sandringham. He was released under investigation. This means more questions are expected. Misconduct in public office is a serious charge. These events are new for the Royal Family. They raise questions about responsibility.