In a historic move, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested this morning at the Sandringham estate on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Officers reportedly arrived in a convoy of eight unmarked vehicles at his home, Wood Farm, after the former Duke of York was evicted from Royal Lodge due to his ties to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The charge is serious
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince, is no small matter and has dominated tabloids and news outlets around the world since Thursday morning. The arrest marks a shocking first for the modern British royal family.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the 66-year-old was taken into custody and that searches were being conducted at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
“We have today arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. The man remains in police custody at this time,” the force said.
The misconduct charge is serious.
Gareth Martin, a criminal defense lawyer, told Daily Mail:
“To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove more than just a mistake. They must show that a public officer, acting in their official capacity, willfully neglected their duty or misconducted themselves to such a degree that it strikes at the very heart of the public’s trust in that office. The threshold for this offense is exceptionally high. It should only be used where the conduct is so blameworthy that it warrants criminal punishment rather than civil or disciplinary action.”
