[Independent] Police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office.Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 today, was detained at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on Thursday, Thames Valley Police said.
The force launched an investigation into the former prince’s dealings with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein amid claims he shared sensitive information with the disgraced financier while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
It came after a new tranche of e-mails were released as part of the so-called Epstein files, released by the US Department of Justice.
In a statement, the force said officers were carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. They added that the arrested man remains in police custody.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has routinely denied any wrongdoing in relation to his connections to Epstein.
Sir Keir Starmer became the latest high profile figure to pile pressure onto the former royal by calling for him to officially testify to US officials about his links.