Andrew arrest: 'This was not the knock at the door he was expecting'

Read time: 4 mins

In brief…

• Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was arrested at his Sandringham home on the morning of his 66th birthday on misconduct in public office charges. He has denied all claims against him.
• The News Agents say the arrest proves that no one is above the reach of UK law, but that the arrest of a former Royal is the “biggest crisis for the Royals” in a century.
• They say there will now be questions over the future of the Royal Family, and that other potential criminals named in the Epstein Files could also face arrest.

What’s the story?

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor marked his 66th birthday with an arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

It follows new allegations in recently revealed documents from the Epstein Files, which claimed he passed sensitive information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy.

"This was probably not the knock at the door he was expecting this morning," Emily Maitlis says.

"But this suggests the police feel confident that they have enough to be suspicious of activities that he was conducting as trade envoy to the United Kingdom."

These are in addition to claims of involvement with Epstein's sex crimes, which Andrew has always denied. The documents also suggested many statements Andrew made about ending his friendship with Epstein were untrue.

A police statement has confirmed only the arrest of a 66-year-old man, along with a promise to "provide updates at the appropriate time" due to public interest in the unfolding situation.

Emily says many people will be asking why the arrest didn't take place sooner, considering the longstanding allegations against Andrew.

"This is not to do with allegations of sexual abuse," she adds.

"It does not come from survivor testimony statement. It does not come from FBI records.

"It comes from this latest tranche of emails, which allegedly show confidential government information being shared between Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein."

'The biggest Royal crisis in a century'

The News Agents say what happened today in Sandringham is the start of a process, not the ending – but even they were surprised at the scale of the operation and its severity.

"One imagined it would be inquiries, asking for help with an investigation, not that he would be arrested," says Jon Sopel.

"The process has followed any other arrest in this country, except Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is not any other person – and that is why this marks the biggest crisis for the Royal Family in a century."

Emily describes this acknowledging that "no one is above the law", but says there will be collateral damage to the Royals, Emily adds, will start with Queen Elizabeth II, and her “unblemished” record as monarch.

In 2022, the Queen paid an undisclosed sum to Epstein abuse survivor Virginia Giuffre in an out-of-court settlement.

"There were so many people willing to say what an extraordinary life she'd lived and how she'd guided the country," Emily says.

"How does it look when your head of state is paying victims of alleged sexual abuse?"

What have the Royals said?

A statement from King Charles refers to Andrew by his full name, and states “the law must take its course”

In it, there is no mention of him being the King’s brother, and the only mention of family comes in relation to the rest of the Royals.

It also expresses the King’s “deepest concern” at hearing the news of the arrest, but Emily says the vague wording gives no suggestion about who that concern is for.

"It is worth underlining that this is the start of a process," Jon says.

"There are questions about what the palace knew about these things."

What happens next?

Jon says the arrest of Andrew is a "good day for justice" – not in suggesting any guilt, but in highlighting the strength of British law.

"In America, there are an awful lot of allegations about an awful lot of men, and no one has been held to account, and there is very little likelihood of anyone being held to account, if you listen to the Department of Justice," he says.

"In Britain, we take a different view about impunity and accountability."

British views on the future of the monarchy will, however, be put to the test.

"We, as a country, have to now establish whether we believe enough in the cultural institution of the monarchy," Emily says.

"How far do the tentacles of power in the Royal Family go? How many people were aware of what he is alleged to have done?"

Listen to the latest episode of The News Agents.