Former Prince Andrew Arrested on Misconduct Allegations Linked to Epstein Scandal
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and previously known as Prince Andrew, was arrested on Thursday morning at the Royal Family's Sandringham estate. The arrest, which occurred on his 66th birthday, is based on suspicions of misconduct during his tenure as a trade representative for the United Kingdom.
This development follows his stripping of royal titles last year by his brother, King Charles III, in response to revelations from the Jeffrey Epstein files that were made public by the United States Department of Justice. The arrest marks a significant escalation in the ongoing legal and public scrutiny surrounding Andrew's associations with the convicted sex offender.
Timeline of Andrew's Downfall
Here is a detailed chronology of key events leading to the arrest:
- Feb. 19, 1960: Andrew Albert Christian Edward is born at Buckingham Palace in London, the third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
- 1979: He begins training as a helicopter pilot with the Royal Navy and attends Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England.
- 1982: Andrew serves as a Sea King helicopter co-pilot during the Falkland Islands conflict, earning praise for his military efforts.
- 1984: Promoted to lieutenant, he serves aboard HMS Brazen until 1986 and is appointed as his mother's personal assistant.
- July 1986: Andrew marries Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey, receiving the titles Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killyleagh from the Queen.
- August 1988 and March 1990: The couple welcomes their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, respectively.
- March 1992: Andrew and Sarah announce their separation, with divorce finalized in May 1996, though they remain close.
- 1999: Reports indicate Andrew is introduced to Jeffrey Epstein through mutual friend Ghislaine Maxwell.
- 2000: Andrew, Epstein, and Maxwell attend a party in Andrew's honor at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property in Florida.
- March 2001: Virginia Giuffre, a former spa aide at Mar-a-Lago, alleges Andrew sexually assaulted her at Maxwell's London home when she was 17, an accusation he denies.
- July 2001: After retiring from the Royal Navy, Andrew is appointed as a special representative for international trade and investment by the U.K. government.
- December 2010: Andrew and Epstein are photographed walking in Central Park, New York City, after Epstein's release from prison for prostituting minors.
- July 2011: Andrew resigns as Britain's special trade envoy amid public outrage over his association with Epstein.
- April 2015: Court documents reveal allegations that Giuffre was forced to have underage sex with Andrew in Florida.
- November 2019: Following Epstein's death, Andrew steps away from public duties after a controversial BBC interview where he claims no memory of meeting Giuffre.
- August 2021: Giuffre files a civil lawsuit against Andrew for sexual assault in the U.S., with a judge rejecting his dismissal attempt in January 2022.
- February 2022: Andrew reaches a multimillion-dollar settlement with Giuffre, including a charity donation, and acknowledges her as a credible victim of abuse.
- January 2024: Unsealed U.S. court documents from Giuffre's 2015 defamation case against Maxwell include new accusations against Andrew, such as groping and underage sex.
- October 2025: King Charles strips Andrew of his royal titles due to further Epstein-related allegations, and he is renamed Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
- January 2026: Additional Epstein files released by the U.S. government show embarrassing photos and emails between Andrew and Epstein dating back to 2010.
- February 2026: Multiple British police forces confirm they are investigating information from the Epstein files.
- Feb. 19, 2026: Andrew is arrested at Sandringham on suspicion of misconduct during his time as a trade envoy.
The arrest underscores the deepening legal challenges for Andrew, as authorities continue to probe the implications of his connections to Epstein. This case has drawn widespread attention, highlighting issues of accountability and misconduct within high-profile circles.
