Police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at his temporary home on the Sandringham estate this morning on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Thames Valley Police has said. At least six unmarked cars with eight officers in plain clothes carrying police issue laptops were spotted driving into Wood Farm around 8am today – Andrew’s 66th birthday – with one later seen taking a folder away.

It comes as the National Crime Agency (NCA) revealed it is supporting UK police forces investigating information in the Epstein files. The NCA said it is supporting police to “enable a full and independent assessment of the information released”. Thames Valley Police confirmed a man in his sixties from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and is in police custody. Officers are carrying out searches at addresses in Norfolk and Berkshire, with officers also spotted at Royal Lodge in Windsor today.

Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.

“It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence. We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”

Pressure has piled on the disgraced former-prince and his relationship with the convicted paedophile after three million pages of previously unseen emails, documents and images from the Epstein Files were released in the US.

Thames Valley Police previously said the force is reviewing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Andrew, and claims he shared sensitive information with the paedophile while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.

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Apparent emails between Andrew and the paedophile were released, as well a disturbing image of him on all fours over a woman. It also comes after Surrey Police urged people with information to come forward about claims of human trafficking and sexual assault dating back to 1994 which appeared in the Epstein files.

Emails released in the Epstein files also appear to show the former duke – who served as trade envoy between 2001 and 2011 – sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore with the paedophile financier.

Thames Valley Police previously said it has held discussions with specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service about the allegations that Andrew shared confidential reports.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) website, misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, the King’s brother, has previously vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The former prince was stripped of his titles by Charles last year after the posthumous release of a book by Virginia Giuffre who alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17. Andrew paid millions to Ms Giuffre, a woman he has claimed never to have met, to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022.

Andrew’s arrest comes days after Buckingham Palace said it would “stand ready to support” the police if approached over the claims made against him. A spokesman for the Palace at the time added that the King had made clear his “profound concern” over Andrew’s alleged conduct.

The King’s brother is effectively no longer a royal, becoming a commoner after he was stripped by the monarch of both his right to be a prince and his dukedom late last year over his association with Epstein. He does, however, remain in the line of succession – he is eighth in line to the throne, having gradually moved down after being born second in line.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “nobody is above the law” over the Andrew allegations. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Starmer was asked against about Andrew testifying. He said: “Anybody who has any information should testify. So whether it’s Andrew or anybody else, anybody who has got relevant information should come forward to whatever the relevant body is, in this particular case we’re talking about Epstein, but there are plenty of other cases.