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CNN Live Event/Special

Former Prince Andrew Arrested Amid Epstein Revelations. Aired 7:24-8a ET

Aired February 19, 2026 - 07:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[07:24:16]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Breaking News.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to CNN's continuing breaking news coverage. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. Police in the United Kingdom have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, the brother of King Charles.

Police say he's been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This follows a report that Andrew, while prince, allegedly shared confidential information with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when he served as trade envoy for the United Kingdom.

In a statement, Thames Valley Police said as part of the investigation, we have today arrested a man in his 60s from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are searching, carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.

[07:25:07]

Man remains in police custody at this time. Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied any wrongdoing over his ties to the disgraced financier. Let's get right to CNN's Salma Abdelaziz, who is in London tracking what is this fast moving story today. And Salma, we've just got a new statement from Virginia Giuffre's family. What does it say?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we did just receive that statement from Virginia Giuffre, who's probably the most outspoken and well known victim, of course, of Jeffrey Epstein. She died of suicide last year just months before a book was published about her horrifying account of survival. She even speaks, of course, about former Prince Andrew in this book.

This is a statement from her family in response to this arrest. At last today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty. On behalf of our sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, we extend our gratitude to the UK's Thames Valley Police for their investigation and arrest of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

Now, it's very important to note here, Becky, that the arrest of Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor is around his time. The allegations, the accusations are around his time as a trade envoy for this country between 2001-2011, not necessarily around the sexual misconduct allegations that of course have been splattered all over the papers and all over the headlines for months now.

Now, that does not mean that a police investigation which is now underway, could expand to something further. Of course it can. But for right now, we understand that the arrest is centered around his time as a trade envoy and that the accusation is that he abused public office in some way, that there was misconduct in public office by passing on sensitive government information, confidential investment opportunities potentially to Jeffrey Epstein.

Now, this is going to absolutely just make the royal family in a moment of crisis. We've also heard from King Charles who just in the last 20 minutes issued a statement. I want to read you a portion of that statement as well. I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.

So we just received that statement less than 30 minutes ago again from King Charles speaking on the arrest of his brother. And reading between the lines there, Becky, what the King is communicating is no one is above the law, not my brother, not a senior member of the royal household.

And this has been the strategy to throughout, I think, for King Charles is to distance, to put as much space as he can between him and the former Prince Andrew. Just think that he's royal. He stripped him of his royal titles last year. He was expelled from the Royal Residence in Windsor just earlier this month. Now he's saying the full force of the law that will be carried out. No one is above the law.

But the question on everyone's lips in this country will, Becky, how much did the King know? How much did he not know? Could anyone have acted sooner? All of that now a matter of course, of police investigation, with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor now in police custody, potentially at a police station, and soon to be interviewed by police for the allegation of misconduct.

Again, it is important to note that being arrested does not mean you are guilty. But this is the beginning. This is step one of a process that you can only imagine is going to grow in scale and scope. Becky,

ANDERSON: I just want to pull out the last couple of lines from King Charles because I think they are important. He said, and I quote him here. Let me state clearly, the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all. The impact on the U.K. royal family cannot be overstated at this point, Salma.

ABDELAZIZ: They are absolutely in crisis mode. I think this is something that King Charles has tried time and time again to get ahead of. Last year, again, stripping his brother of royal titles, stripping him, essentially pushing him out of his formal role within the institution of the monarchy, pushing him out of the Royal residence.

We had a statement as well from Prince William and Princess Kate just a short -- just a few days ago, I think it was again, expressing concern. So there has been this effort by the family to separate themselves from Prince Andrew and from Prince Andrew's accusations, the crisis he is in.

[07:30:02]

But that is almost impossible to do now, especially when you're talking about a police investigation. And you'll remember that just about a week ago, King Charles issued a statement in which he said he is willing to support the police in any inquiry they have. So we are looking at potentially Buckingham Palace having to support the police in the investigation of one of their own, former Prince Andrew.

You know how it is in this country. The royal family is something that is deeply embedded within British culture, but it is also a system of trust. The royal family represents family of this country, that represents this country, and people trust them to do that.

So the allegation of misconduct in public office, the allegation that former Prince Andrew abused his power when he was representing this country by passing on confidential information, by passing on investment opportunities, as this accusation goes, as this allegation goes, that is outstanding. That is a major breach of public trust, if true. Becky.

ANDERSON: Salma, it's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. I want to bring in Quentin Peel. He's a former foreign editor at the Financial Times, a very familiar face to longtime watchers of this network. And, Quentin, it's good to have you this morning. Your initial response to this news.

QUENTIN PEEL, FREELANCE JOURNALIST: I think it must be the moment that King Charles has dreaded to see his brother arrested. And yet, in a way, I think that probably it may be a relief to try and bring matters to a head and get on with any investigation that must be happening.

So I think those words in King Charles's statement are very important, as you said, because he's saying the law must take its course and nobody is above the law. It is a very dangerous moment for the monarchy in Britain, and quite extraordinary that this has come at it really so suddenly, because it's been building up.

But nonetheless, I don't think anybody expected to see the former Prince Andrew arrested not quite at dawn, but police cars attending the residence on the Royal estate at Sandringham so early, really quite shocking.

ANDERSON: And the role of the royal family in the U.K. is, of course, primarily constitutional and ceremonial. It also, though, includes representation. Members of the royal family represent the U.K. on the international stage, undertaking state visits and promoting British interests abroad. Let's be very specific about this. He has been arrested on suspicion

of misconduct in public office. Just explain for our viewers the extent of the former Prince Andrew's role as representing the country, which is where, very specifically, this arrest is focused.

PEEL: Well, for rather more than a decade, I think, from 2000 to 2011, he was regularly a trade envoy representing the United Kingdom as a whole. This was a key part, after all, of, if you like, Britain's soft power to use the Royal family. Members of the Royal Family, who had very good access to high level contacts in many countries. So he was representing the U.K. in the Middle East, in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Afghanistan.

All of those places seem to be mentioned in emails between Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Jeffrey Epstein, where he was actually passing on information at a very early stage about the activities he was up to.

And although I don't think we should exaggerate possibly the amount of money that Epstein might have been made able to make out of the information, nonetheless, it is profoundly shocking, I think, to the system of trust that the British people essentially have had in their monarchy, the idea that somebody in the monarchy might be trying to make a buck for himself or his friends out of their activities.

ANDERSON: You're a great watcher of British politics, perhaps more so than the Royal Family. I'm not sure how interested you actually are in the Royal Family, but I know that you, professionally you will be, but, you know, a great watcher of British politics. And you and I have spoken, I think, probably over the past, what, two decades or so extensively about what is going on in the U.K. with regard politics.

[07:35:09]

And the fallout from the Epstein files has shaken the top ranks of U.K. government. I just wonder how today's development is likely to play into that. Quentin?

PEEL: Well, clearly at the top end it plays into worries and doubts about the Royal family itself. But let us not forget the parallel case of Peter Mandelson, the former very senior government minister, absolutely key player in the Labour Party politics of the last two decades, former European commissioner, who's also proven to be extremely close to Jeffrey Epstein and indeed to have regularly passed on government information.

So he too is suspected of so called misconduct in public office. And that word misconduct, as we can see straight away, is very broad. I think primarily it is to do with using information, secret information from the heart of government to pass on to people outside government.

And I think that on both levels, therefore both the Royal family, but also the British government and in particular the British prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, they're very damaged by these accusations and people in the United Kingdom I think, are taking them very seriously. It's an extraordinary situation really, where the first dramatic

fallout that seems to be happening from the publication of these Epstein files seems to be more than anything else in the United Kingdom rather than in the United States where the crisis began.

ANDERSON: Always good to have you, Quentin. Absolute pleasure. Thank you very much indeed for your time today. You're watching breaking news here on CNN. I'm Becky Anderson and we will be right back with more out of the U.K. on the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Stay with us.

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[07:41:50]

ANDERSON: We are following stunning events out of the United Kingdom today where the former Prince Andrew was arrested just a short time ago and taken into custody. He is accused of allegedly sharing confidential information with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while he served as a trade envoy for the United Kingdom.

Now, Mountbatten-Windsor, as he is known now, has previously denied any wrongdoing over his ties to the disgraced financier. In a statement, his brother, King Charles III, said, I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation.

He went on to say, let me state clearly, the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.

And we are hearing from the family of Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre. They say, quote, at last today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty. On behalf of our sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre we extend our gratitude to the UK's Thames Valley Police for their investigation and arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you.

Let's get right over to Sandro Monetti. He's a royal commentator and Hollywood International Film Magazine's editor in chief.

Early morning where you are, sir. Thank you for joining us. You've closely followed the royal family for years. What is your take on this remarkable news out of the United Kingdom today and how it is likely to land as people wake up in the United States?

SANDRO MONETTI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL FILM MAGAZINE: Normally, Andrew would spend his birthday, he's 66 today, with a lavish celebration until his fall from grace. The bells of Westminster Abbey would ring on this date every year in

celebration. Today, the only bells that are ringing are alarm bells at the palace, because this arrest today puts in question not only the future of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, but I would say, the entire future of the royal family.

ANDERSON: And this is an unprecedented situation, at least in British modern history, the arrest of a senior member of the royal family. Of course, he is no longer a working royal. He was stripped of that responsibility by his brother, King Charles III, back at the back end of last year.

Question is, at this point, one, will he be charged?

[07:45:00]

And two, what sort of impact will this have, not least on his immediate family, his wife, who is also of course, implicated in the Epstein files, and his two daughters. And the widest story here is the consequence for the U.K. royal family as a whole.

MONETTI: The Andrew issue has and will come to define King Charles's entire reign. And the statement was very telling. No mention of my brother mentioning him by name. And of course, this is of course, an unprecedented event in modern history.

What is happening right now is Andrew is facing questions in a police station. First time in his life that he's had to give these kind of answers to such direct questions. This isn't a TV interview, you know, this is his liberty at stake.

ANDERSON: For those who may not be as familiar with the former Prince Andrew as you are, who is he?

MONETTI: Very much the playboy prince. For many years we've heard with sort of William and Harry about the heir of and the spare. So he was the spare, never sort of born to reign. So therefore he had much more of a free reign when it came to public life.

And I mentioned the word reign there because despite all the things that have been stripped away from Andrew, I would point out that he is still eighth in line to the throne. It will be interesting to see in the coming days if there are calls in Parliament for him to be removed from that list.

Always been a controversial figure, never more so than now. And the actions of which he's accused put the entire future of the monarchy at risk.

ANDERSON: And these, of course, are -- he's been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. And this alludes to his period between 2000, 2001 and 2011 when he was a U.K. envoy. The royal family does represent the U.K. on the international stage, but he was very sort of visible about that. Perhaps more visible than I certainly remember.

Having grown up in the U.K., I remember any other sort of royal being quite as active when it came to the sort of the business beat that he took on during that time. We're showing pictures at the moment of Prince Andrew in Windsor Royal Park. These pictures taken some time ago. He's an avid rider, of course. He was always described as the favorite son of the late Queen Elizabeth, who was also a great writer herself.

Look, I want to bring up a couple of images that we've got it here in to CNN. This is a live image, I think of Buckingham -- that this is a live image of the gate at in Windsor, of the Windsor Lodge. And this of course, is where a property where Prince Andrew lived is currently being searched, as we understand it.

The Thames Valley Police for those viewers who may be unfamiliar with the way that the U.K. police force works, the Thames Valley Police are responsible for Windsor, of course, they've been the arresting force this morning alongside the Norfolk Constabulary, which is where Prince Andrew currently was or is residing.

We've talked about the impact that you believe this news will have on the Royal Family. And can we just talk about his kids who've been, I think it's fair to say, caught up in what must be an absolute nightmare for them. His wife, of course, has been implicated in the Epstein files as well. Just talk to us about that family.

MONETTI: Well, there's also the question of what happens next. You mentioned the investigation that is going on and when you arrest a person like this and take them into custody, it then gives you the opportunity to search their properties. They'll be looking for documents, laptops, digital records, you know, to help them build a case and see if there is one there. They'll also want to speak to other people.

So I wonder if Sarah Ferguson is looking out the window, expecting a knock on the door. Of course, her -- she is very guilty of very bad judgment, of course, you know, taking her daughters to meet with Jeffrey Epstein after his conviction. And the police will want to know not just what did Andrew know, but what did those close to him know?

[07:50:00]

You see, the royal family are held up in Britain as held to a higher standard. That's why we have a royal family in the first place, somebody to look up to. So rightly or wrongly, they are held to a higher moral standard. It seems they're falling from that standard.

The popularity with the public has dropped significantly. It was around 80 percent in the 80s. It's down to around 50 percent now. The current events aren't going to help matters. And so when I say that what the King does in the coming days and weeks will define his reign, it will not only do that, he needs to try and protect the institution of the monarchy while, as some have said, throwing his brother under the royal carriage.

ANDERSON: Yes. Sandro, fantastic to have you this morning. Thank you for being with us, particularly as it is very early there in Los Angeles. But very much appreciate your time. I'm going to take a very short break. Back after this.

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[07:55:41]

ANDERSON: Well, back to our breaking news. Police in the United Kingdom have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known, of course, as Prince Andrew, the brother of King Charles. He is accused of allegedly sharing confidential information with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while he served as a trade envoy for the United Kingdom.

Well, CNN's royal correspondent Max Foster tracking this story live for us outside Buckingham Palace today. I think it's fair to say that the statement from King Charles, Max, that we received just about half an hour or so ago and the speed at which this statement came in the wake of the news of this arrest is highly significant.

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I speak volumes. Normally, we would expect a statement from the palace. We didn't get a statement from the palace. We got a statement from the king, which is a much bigger process because this is now on record and it did come in rapid time. And as you say, that is notable because it shows how seriously the king is taking it.

Just to say, Becky, we've just heard from the princess -- and Princess -- the Prince and Princess of Wales, a source telling me that they completely support this statement. And if you look at it, if you look at some of the wording, it's interesting. The king talks about his deepest concern about the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

So he's not referring to his brother. He's completely separating himself from his brother, separating the monarchy from his brother. And showing that they offer full and wholehearted support to the police investigation. So they are completely on the police's side on this one, as you would expect a monarchy to be.

But at the same time, this is a family firm that shows how profound that statement was from the king, distancing himself from his brother and showing he will completely cooperate with anything that the police wants.

ANDERSON: Yes. Let me state clearly, he said the law must take its course. Max, what can we expect in the hours to come?

FOSTER: So Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can be held typically it would be 12 or 24 hours. It could be up to four days. But they'd have to get a magistrate to approve that. I imagine it will be a long process because these are historic and very complicated questions that we're asking here.

So imagine this, Becky, though, for the first time since the English Civil War, when Charles I was taken into detention, we have a senior royal being arrested and sitting in a police cell in between interviews. It's an extraordinary situation. We don't, you know, this is a police investigation. We don't know what evidence they've got. We don't know which way this is going to go. But just the fact that he's been arrested is pretty profound and stark as well.

ANDERSON: Max, good to have you. I know that we'll see you on the other side of what will be a very short break here. We're looking at pictures of Buckingham Palace as you and I speak. We don't know where the former Prince Andrew is. We perhaps will find that out in the hours to come.

I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. We are going to take a very short break, and then my colleagues at CNN News Central in New York will have more on the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Stay with us.

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