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Former Prince Andrew’s angry 11-word outburst during arrest revealed
Former senior royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — once known as Prince Andrew — was arrested on February 19, 2026, his 66th birthday, in a dramatic development that has shaken the British establishment.
Thames Valley Police detained him on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a rare charge against a figure of his stature, related to his alleged sharing of sensitive UK government information with the now-deceased financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy.
He was held in custody for nearly 11 hours and later released under investigation as police continue searches of properties linked to him in Norfolk and at his former residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
The arrest follows new material emerging from Epstein files that have reignited scrutiny of his long-standing association with Epstein.
Tense scene at Royal Lodge as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested
The fallout from the arrest extended beyond legal questions into the personal and symbolic.
Mountbatten-Windsor was in the midst of being relocated from the Royal Lodge, the grand home he had occupied for decades, to a smaller cottage on the Sandringham Estate — a move prompted by earlier palace decisions stripping him of royal titles and responsibilities.
Police and investigators were seen at both his new and former addresses as part of enquiries that also include wider reviews of emails and communications connected with Epstein.
Politicians across the UK have reacted with calls for possible legislative action to formalise his removal from the line of succession, a step that would require parliamentary approval.
The ex-Prince's 11-word outburst
Amid the tension of his eviction and arrest process, sources close to the situation - quoted in the Daily Mail - revealed a candid moment that has since been widely reported - confronted by officials during his removal from Royal Lodge, Mountbatten-Windsor reportedly shouted an angry 11-word statement.
He reportedly cried out: “I’m the Queen’s second son, you can’t do this to me.”
The outburst has resonated in UK media and public debate, seen by critics as a stark expression of entitlement clashing with the reality of legal accountability.
Although he has denied wrongdoing, the moment encapsulates the dramatic shift in his circumstances, from a once-privileged member of the royal family to a figure facing intense legal and public scrutiny.
Ongoing investigation and political fallout
Mountbatten-Windsor remains under investigation, and no formal charges have yet been filed.
Police continue to sift through evidence, including emails and documents released by US authorities, and are expected to expand enquiries by questioning former aides and protection officers who worked with him.
King Charles III has publicly supported the rule of law in the matter, emphasising that 'the law must take its course,' while distancing the wider royal family from the controversy.
Pressure is growing on lawmakers as well; some UK MPs are calling for a treason investigation into alleged breaches of public duty, though others await more definitive evidence before moving forward.
The broader ramifications of this unfolding scandal are still emerging.
As police expand their search efforts and political debate intensifies, the once-untouchable former royal’s future — legally, publicly, and even within the monarchy’s remaining institutional framework — hangs in the balance.