Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has today been arrested on his 66th birthday and is in custody after a raid on his new Sandringham home.
Thames Valley Police held the eighth in line to the British throne on suspicion of misconduct in public office this morning.
The Daily Mail was the first to reveal plain-clothes police, carried in six unmarked vehicles, had arrived at Wood Farm, where Andrew now lives, at 8am this morning.
A convoy including at least two royal Land Rovers linked to Andrew was photographed leaving the estate less than an hour later. His arrest was confirmed at 10.08am.
For the past ten days, detectives have been probing his conduct as a trade envoy for the UK after emails in the Epstein Files suggested he shared confidential information with his paedophile friend, including reports of his official visits and potential investment opportunities.
A Thames Valley spokesman said today: ‘We have today arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office’.
The force said its officers are searching an address in Norfolk – believed to be Wood Farm, where Andrew is exiled – and an address in Berkshire, likely to be Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he lived for more than 20 years until this month.
‘The man remains in police custody at this time’, the spokesman said – but the force would not confirm where Andrew, who is celebrating his birthday today, had been taken.
Norfolk Police said it is ‘supporting’ the Thames Valley investigation but did not say if one of its stations was being used by detectives to interview Andrew.
Thames Valley Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: ‘Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.
‘It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence.
‘We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.’
Hellbound and Down 