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CNN Live Event/Special

Police Arrest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Aired 8:17-9a ET

Aired February 19, 2026 - 08:17   ET

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

[08:17:25]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: I'm Becky Anderson with your breaking news here. You've been watching CNN's continuing coverage of the developments in the United Kingdom, where a short while ago, police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew. He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Police haven't said what led them to the arrest, but the former prince spent a decade as trade envoy for the country. And the arrest follows the US Government's release of documents detailing the former prince's ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement released shortly after the arrest, King Charles III says he learned, "with the deepest concern of the arrest and stress that the law must take its course."

Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied any wrongdoing over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Well, CNN's Salma Abdelaziz joins us now from London.

I just want to step back for a moment because this all sort of emerged about what, three-and-a-half hours ago. Just walk us through what we know of the arrest and what happens next, Salma.

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. A dramatic of series of events that played out this morning at the Sandringham estate. This is an estate owned by King Charles, where former Prince Andrew was staying after he was expelled from the royal residence in Windsor earlier this month. This morning, police showed up at the Sandringham estate. Many police vehicles as you see in those images there, some of them unmarked police vehicles and they began a search.

And of course, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested. As you said, this has played out now for several hours, so you can imagine at this point in time that he has made it to a police station. What police station? We do not know. He could potentially be in a police cell.

It is important to note here that fundamentally this is an investigation into allegations of corruption. So there will absolutely be no special treatment given to the former prince. He will be in a prison cell just like anyone else. Hard bed, toilet. That is what you can imagine that his life has come today as he awaits potentially that has started. We simply don't know. As he awaits questioning, an interview by police into an investigation on suspicion of misconduct while in public office. Now very important to note here, of course, that being arrested does not mean being guilty. There is an investigation underway.

[08:20:09]

He has not been charged. That is the key thing we are all waiting to find out about. Will the police charge him and what will those charges be. Also important to note here that despite the fact that a lot of the talk around former Prince Andrew has about accusations of sexual misconduct, this is centered around his time as a trade envoy and a potential abuse of power while he represented this country as a trade secretary.

Now, we've heard from King Charles, who has said, as you mentioned, that essentially his brother, the full force of the law will apply to his brother. Very cold statement described him just as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and offered again, extended again his support of the police.

We've also heard from Prince William and Princess Kate. They have said that they fully support the King in his statement. We've also heard, again, although this arrest is not around sexual misconduct allegations, we've also heard from the family of Virginia Giuffre, of course, the most prominent accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, who died of suicide last year.

Her family issued a statement essentially saying, thank you, issuing gratitude, and saying that this shows that no one is above the law, not even a member of the royal household at large. If you think of this country right now, of course, there is a sense of shock, a sense of awe, a sense of confusion. It is important to note the role that the British family plays in this country's culture, its history, its representation abroad.

And so, the allegation that representation, while being a trade representative for this country, that Prince, former Prince Andrew, may have abused that power by passing on confidential government secrets, by passing on confidential investment opportunities to Mr. Epstein, to Mr. Jeffrey Epstein is absolutely going to send reverberations not just across here in the UK, but of course, across the Atlantic in the United States.

This all stems, of course, from the release of Epstein documents by the DOJ. And those calls former Prince Andrew to testify in Congress. You can imagine that those will grow louder. But you are seeing this unfolding before us and right now, an arrest, the series of events that happen after that.

Will he be formally charged, that is the key question right now. Will he be formally charged, that is what we're waiting on, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes. And it's not clear whether Buckingham Palace knew in advance that the Thames Valley Police would arrest the former Prince Andrew, who was, as we understand it, and on the Sandringham estate. These are pictures from there or just outside the Sandringham estate.

That, of course, is one of King Charles' estates. And it was there that the former Prince Andrew had moved only very recently from his former home, of course, in Windsor. The Thames Valley Police are responsible for the area in the UK that Windsor is located in. They are working with the local constabulary here in Norfolk, of course.

We have to consider, Salma, at this point, the impact on the royal family, the UK royal family, who had been under some pressure anyway over the past few years. And despite, Max and I talked about the, the speed of which the statement from King Charles came out, and we thought that was highly significant. This will be a family firm, as they are known now, in crisis mode.

ABDELAZIZ: Absolutely in crisis mode. And you can imagine right now the firm, the institution of the monarchy, is scrambling, it is trying to do damage control because King Charles has tried to get ahead of this time and time again. He has tried to preempt the possibility of this.

You'll remember that last year, of course, he stripped his brother of all of his royal titles. I mean, this was an extraordinary measure that he, King Charles, I believe, hoped, demonstrated his seriousness. He, as you mentioned, evicted again, former Prince Andrew from the royal residence in Windsor.

All of those moves, all of those actions, he issued a statement, this is very key here. King Charles issued a statement just days before this arrest that has taken place today, saying he's willing to support the police in any future investigation. You heard that sentiment echoed again in his statement today where he said, we are working with the police, we are willing to work with the police.

And this has been the monarchy strategy throughout this scandal, is to create distance, is to separate themselves as much as they possibly can from someone who is a very close family member, who is a member, a senior member of the royal household.

[08:25:02]

ANDERSON: Yeah.

ABDELAZIZ: How long will that strategy hold, especially when people start to ask questions about what the King did or did not know when it comes to this issue.

ANDERSON: Yes, who knew what when. Salma Abdelaziz is on the story in London, thank you. Let's bring in broadcaster and royal watcher now, Bidisha Mamata, who is also joining us from London today.

And to that point, I mean, it is very likely that the royal family in the UK will now face some Andrew related questions. Who knew what went. This is a police investigation. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has now been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

And for those who may be watching this and thinking, well, you know, just a big sort of spat about nothing in the UK, you know, we're not interested in the royal family, you know, and etcetera. I mean, there'll be Republicans watching this who, I can only imagine what they're thinking. But this is a really, really important story.

I mean, the royal family, you know, its power is enormous. It wields enormous power and responsibility in the United Kingdom and, of course, around the world with its links to the Commonwealth, Bidisha.

BIDISHA MAMATA, BROADCASTER/ROYAL WATCHER: You're exactly right. In fact, the one thing that current generations have been asking of the royal family is, what exactly do you do? Why are you here and what do you stand for? The one role that they have in the 21st century is symbolic, cultural, historical, and it's to do with soft power.

Now, if we link that to their traditional role, which was that they were supposedly chosen by God to embody certain values and principles of virtue and divinity, well, royal watchers will say that they're failing on both counts. This has been an absolutely extraordinary day. And even as a -- an -- as someone who is analyzing the royal family, I never would have thought that you would have a statement from King Charles in full support, not of his brother, but of Thames Valley Police.

He is making it so very clear that the institution of the British royal family will succeed and survive. And that this one person, the thorn in the side, the problem sibling, is going to be absolutely put out into the cold, regardless of what happens. If this results in a police caution, if he somehow gets away with it, if he's released without charge, I think that the kickback amongst the public, the press, the media, diplomatic allies, all the heads of state, will be so negative that it's not as if Andrew is going to somehow weasel his way back into a lovely plum spot at the royal dining table.

ANDERSON: I mean, the damage wrought by these Epstein files, I'm sort of considering, as I listen to your insight on the damage wrought to this royal family in the UK, of course, the Epstein files have snared other members of other royal families in other parts of the world, not least in Europe. And it does occur to me that this is an extremely difficult time and era, not just for the UK's royal family, but for others around the world.

Be that as it may, this is a story about the former Prince Andrew and his activities when he was UK envoy. Your analysis on, you know, what the royal family stands for and why it is in existence is really important.

Its role largely constitutional and ceremonial, but it does have this very important position in representation of the United Kingdom that being on the sort of business stage around the world. And I think for our viewers who may not know as much about Prince Andrew as you do, perhaps we should just talk, discuss, you know, how extensive or not that role was, how effective or not that role was.

I mean, as someone who grew up in the UK, I was remarking earlier on to one of our other guests, you know, he was more visible in the sort of decade that he was doing this job, I think, than most other members of the royal family when I think about it. Your thoughts?

MAMATA: I think that's exactly right. And it's quite extraordinary because I was listening to all of these latest releases, and I had actually forgotten that he had held formal roles to do with diplomacy, building international relations, fostering trade ties, so bringing huge amounts of money, investment interest and soft power into Britain.

[08:30:03]

And if you actually consider his formal level of expertise, insight, intelligence and education, you would think that those two things did not match up. But that's one of the many, many privileges and benefits of being a working member of the royal family. You get given these unbelievably important, in fact, crucial jobs where you are literally in cahoots with other extremely important people. You're going on these jollies which are under the umbrella, if we're going to call them cultural diplomacy, shall we say, and you're fostering friendships that can have a very positive effect.

And unfortunately, as we're seeing, it can have very negative consequences if you are of poor character, and it can even have criminal consequences if you break the law, which is what we're seeing happening today.

ANDERSON: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested by police earlier today on his 66th birthday. As we understand that he is being questioned by Thames Valley Police. He can be held for up to 24 hours in the first instance, and then possibly for four days if the police force feels or the -- those interviewing him feels that is warranted.

Bidisha, it's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for your time today here on CNN. I'm Becky Anderson. We're going to take a very quick break. Do stay with us now for more coverage of the arrest of the former Prince Andrew of the UK, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:35:13]

ANDERSON: Well, let's get you back to our continuing coverage of our breaking news. Police in the United Kingdom have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, on suspicion of public -- misconduct in public office. Mountbatten-Windsor can be held up for up to 24 hours before police would have to charge him or release him.

It is important to note, he has not been charged at this point. Police have not said what led them to the arrest earlier today, but the former prince spent a decade as trade envoy for the United Kingdom, stepping down in 2011 after coming under fire for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Well, let's go straight to our royal correspondent, Max Foster, live for us from Buckingham Palace. And speaking to the BBC, Max, this morning, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, had this to say. Let's have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, UK PRIME MINISTER: Yes, anybody who has any information should testify. So whether it's Andrew or anybody else, anybody who's got relevant information should come forward to whatever the relevant body is. In this particular case, we talk about Epstein, but there are plenty of other cases. It is anybody who's got information relating to any aspect of violence against women and girls has, in my view, a duty to come forward, whoever they are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Now, that may have been, in response, as I listened to it, to a question about testifying before Congress, because that is certainly, that has been pressure. There has been pressure on the former Prince Andrew to do that with regard sexual offences in this Epstein case. This is today not what that is about, of course.

This arrest this morning is on suspicion of misconduct in public office. And we must be clear about that, Max. I mean, it's obviously significant to hear that sort of language from a sitting prime minister, but let's be absolutely clear about what we understand to have happened today.

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So the Congressional investigation is into the broader Epstein affair, and part of that is that Andrew's accused of sexual misconduct and this is not what the police are looking into. But what I will say is that, the family of his main accuser, Virginia Giuffre, have welcomed what's happened here in the UK, because their larger campaign is just to get accountability for what they saw as abuse of power amongst an elite group of men.

The investigation today is about his public position as trade envoy representing the UK on trade missions. And the allegation is, although we haven't heard this from the police, the original allegation is that he was sharing those reports, those confidential reports with Jeffrey Epstein, which he could have used because they were market sensitive. We haven't got much information, apart from the fact that he's been arrested and we're waiting to see whether or not he'll be charged.

But there's clearly been some development in the case here to allow this huge step in progression here. We have actually heard from Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, saying that he's been sending new information to police forces. It could have been that. As I say, we just don't know at this point.

But quite extraordinary to think of the fact that a senior role, he may not be a senior working royal, he may not have his titles anymore, but he could be sitting in a cell right now between interviews, which would be the first time, I think, Becky, in 400 years. You know, the last person in the royal family to be detained was Charles I.

ANDERSON: Max, it's good to have you. Max is outside Buckingham Palace working his sources. And as we get more, we will get it to you. You are bang up to date on what we know as of yet. We're going to take a very quick break and stay with us for more coverage of the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:43:23]

ANDERSON: Well, if you are just joining us, we have been following breaking news over the past couple of hours. Andrew Mountbatten- Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III in the United Kingdom, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Police have not said what led them to this arrest. Earlier, officers were seen arriving at his home in Sandringham.

This is an extraordinary moment for the British monarchy. Dal Babu is the former Chief Superintendent for the Met Police and a prominent figure in the policing community in the UK. I spoke with him a short time ago about Andrew's arrest and the wider significance of this case. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAL BABU, FORMER CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT, METROPOLITAN POLICE: The decision to make an arrest is very significant. They can hold somebody for 24 hours and then up to 96 hours with authorities from senior officers in the court system. That's highly unlikely at this stage. But I think they would have had the opportunity now to search multiple properties now. Not only when you arrest somebody, you are allowed to search properties that they have control of and the properties that they own. So there are other properties that Andrew Mountbatten- Windsor has control of, and all those properties are now simultaneously being searched.

They'd be looking for electronic devices, any information that's held on those. There may well be some items that they're aware of that he may have come into possession with, whether it's through his role as a trade envoy or whether he connected to Epstein. I think this is -- so it's a massive, massive moment -- seeing from here.

[08:45:04]

I should imagine, (inaudible), you know, it's a spectacular fall from grace. This is the Queen's favorite son, Queen Elizabeth II's favorite son. He was a man who was. I had the -- I met him. He's a very arrogant individual and he would have -- he loved all the attention and status he has. To go from that, being stripped of all his titles and now to be sitting in a cell in a police station is quite a spectacular fall from grace.

ANDERSON: And I want to lean into your experience on exactly that. I mean, how would this arrest at Sandringham do you believe have unfolded and what will be the conditions that he is held? We don't know where he is being held. We know this was an arrest by the Thames Valley Police, which is the force that runs the sort of London area in junction with the Norfolk police force, which is of course where Sandringham is based or located.

BABU: Yes. So Thames Valley have responsibility for Windsor Castle. The Metropolitan Police have the responsibility for London. But there are 43 forces, as you'll probably be aware of, in England and Wales. We know that nine of them are carrying out inquiries in relation to Epstein and Andrew will have been featured in some of those investigations. We know what was known as the Lolita Express, the plane that was carrying vulnerable women had landed in Britain on numerous occasions.

We know that Epstein facilitated Women for Rich and Powerful Men, and Virginia Giuffre had made allegations against Andrew. Andrew always claimed that he was in a pizza restaurant and wasn't there. I think there'll be pressure on the police to ensure that all the logs and data of their protection officers are released to the investigation so they can establish exactly where he was.

But at this stage, I think it is that element where the police will ask questions, and try and gather as much information as they can from those addresses.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, still to come, more on the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. We'll have the very latest updates from London for you after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:51:31]

ANDERSON: Well, a reminder of our breaking news this hour. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles, has been arrested in the United Kingdom. It is on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Though police have not said what has specifically led to the arrest. Excuse me.

Andrew spent a decade as UK trade envoy. The arrest follows the US Government's release of documents detailing the former prince's ties to the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Excuse me.

My next guest is our royal historian, Kate Williams, live from London. Just your response in principle, your initial response to this, Kate?

KATE WILLIAMS, CNN ROYAL HISTORIAN: I mean, Becky, this is unprecedented. This is extraordinary. This is a day we haven't seen for the royals since the 17th century. The last senior royal to be arrested was Charles I during the Civil War.

It was a period of war, so different rules, you might say, might apply. This is a senior member of the royal family, the King's own brother, who was once second in line to the throne, of course, when he was a little boy, second in line to the throne, he could have been king. And now, he has been arrested on accusations, allegations of misconduct in public office.

The royal family have tried to separate themselves from Andrew, depriving him of the title of prince in October, moving him out of the grand mansion of Royal Lodge to Sandringham. But still he is a royal family member. He's a senior royal family member. He's been living on the King's estate in Sandringham, and now he has been arrested and is in a cell, we presume, just like any other person who is arrested, being interrogated, with very few amenities.

It is at a police station somewhere. And we understand two addresses are being searched. This is seismic for the -- history, seismic for the royal family, and it is a crisis for the royal family. Can they separate themselves from this?

ANDERSON: Yes. Let's just talk about how the royal family has responded very briefly, and let's see if we can bring up the response from King Charles. Who said in a statement, you know, not an hour or so after this arrest, I quote, I've learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor," doesn't call him, his brother calls him by his full name, "and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is a full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner by the appropriate authorities. As I've said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation."

He goes on to say, Kate, "let me state clearly, the law must take in its course." As you say, he has been, as has the rest of the family, been trying to distance themselves from his younger brother, but he is very clear in his wording now that this -- he is not above the law and the law must run its course on this. And I guess that sort of significant, the speed at which that came out, I think you'd agree with me. The question is, what. What does happen next at this point? I mean, there's no suggestion even at this point that he will be charged, let alone be thrown in jail. This is just an arrest on suspicion at this point. What do we know about what happens next?

WILLIAMS: Well, he obviously has to be charged within 96 hours, otherwise they then have to release him. And I think we almost had a warning perhaps, that the royal family were to support this investigation. As the King said in that statement you just gave us, he's already said that he would support an investigation with Thames Valley Police.

[08:55:13]

It's Thames Valley Police, of course, because this is based in relation to Windsor. Presumably, Andrew, you know, sent these emails from Windsor. It's Thames Valley Police, not the London Metropolitan Police. And I think that the royal family here are very clearly saying, we are continuing in duty and service. But Andrew, he is going to be a different kettle of fish.

And that's the question, can they separate themselves? Because people will say, what did you know? What didn't you know? And although this is not an arrest as related to the women, Virginia Giffre and other women, there have been recent allegations there was another woman trafficked to Royal Lodge. This is not in connection to that. It's about misconduct in public office. It's about his role as trade envoy, we understand.

Still people are going to say, but you knew about that there was a payoff given to Ms. Giuffre. So what is, you know, what is the -- why did the royal family not deal with this earlier? This is, I think, the biggest crisis they've had since the death of Diana, because the Royal Family is about perception, it's about message. That's how they're judged, how they're seen, how they're viewed, and the fact that a senior one (inaudible) is very bad for them.

ANDERSON: All right, Kate Williams joining us today. Thank you, Kate. We're going to take a very quick break and then continue CNN's breaking news coverage today of the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten- Windsor.

We're also monitoring President Trump's Board of Peace meeting that the first time in Washington today. We'll bring you his remarks, the US President's remarks as he starts there. More on that is coming up.

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