From Sea King Helicopter Pilot To Being Stripped Of Royal Tag: Who’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Arrested On His 66th Birthday?

London: Once a prominent figure in the British Royal Family, the young brother of King Charles III, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, has undergone a historic downfall. He is the first senior British royal in modern history to be detained by police.

Following the years of mounting allegations and the stripping of his royal titles in the late 2025, the 66-year-old was reportedly arrested on February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Early Life and Military Service

Born in 1960 as the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Andrew was once a celebrated national figure. 

He was reportedly his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite, but the former Prince Andrew has long been a headache for Britain's royal family.

After 22 years in the Royal Navy, including combat operations as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War, Andrew was named Britain’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001.

His elder brother Charles was destined for the throne. Andrew took a tried-and-tested route for younger royal sons: military service.

In 1986, he married Sarah Ferguson, with whom he had two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Though the couple divorced in 1996, they remained close.

Epstein Connection and Downfall

The pivot point of Andrew's career was his relationship with American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The two were introduced in 1999 via Ghislaine Maxwell.

Mountbatten-Windsor was forced to step down from the trade role in 2011 amid growing concern about his friendship with Epstein, who had been sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 after pleading guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Once a subject of media fascination for his love life, the man the tabloids dubbed “Randy Andy” became a regular source of headlines because of his money woes and links to questionable characters, including Epstein, the American financier and convicted sex offender.

After Epstein was arrested again in 2019, Andrew gave a disastrous interview to the BBC’s Newsnight program, in which he tried to explain away his contacts with Epstein. It backfired – he was widely criticised for giving unbelievable explanations and for failing to show empathy for Epstein’s victims.

Amid the backlash, Andrew announced on Nov. 20, 2019, that he was giving up public duties and charity roles “for the foreseeable future.”

In August 2021, one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre, sued Andrew in a New York court, alleging that the prince had sex with her when she was underage. Andrew denied the allegations, but he was stripped of all military affiliations and royal charity work.

Andrew ultimately settled the case for an undisclosed sum. While he didn’t admit wrongdoing, Andrew did acknowledge Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking. Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, aged 41.

Amid ongoing scrutiny and the publication of Giuffre’s posthumous memoir in 2025, King Charles III initiated the process to strip Andrew of his remaining royal styles, honours, and the title of “Prince.”

Recent Arrest

While Andrew has kept a low profile at his new residence on the Sandringham Estate, he has been occasionally spotted riding in Windsor Great Park.

However, recent document leaks from the US Justice Department have reignited the legal firestorm.

Millions of pages of newly released documents reportedly suggest that between 2010 and 2011, Andrew may have shared confidential trade briefs and investment opportunities with Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy.

On February 19, 2026, Thames Valley Police reportedly arrested the former prince at his Norfolk home. The investigation focuses on whether he used his public position to benefit Epstein's network.

Potential for Prison

The possibility that Andrew will become the first senior member of the House of Windsor to face imprisonment has turned from media speculation to a serious legal prospect.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly stated the former prince should cooperate fully with investigators.

New photos and emails from the Epstein files, including images of the former prince in compromised positions, are being analysed by forensic teams to build a case regarding misconduct in public office.

That was not the end of the story. After emails emerged last year showing Andrew remained in contact with Epstein longer than he previously claimed, King Charles III stripped his brother of his princely title and other honors and his home at Royal Lodge in Windsor. (With AP Inputs)

Also Read: High Profile Parties, Island Visits, Disturbing Emails: All About Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Controversial Ties With Jeffrey Epstein