King Charles’ brother and former British prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested by British police on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Epstein dossier.
Andrew turned 66 on Thursday. Several unmarked police cars and officers arrived at his home at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate.
The case is related to emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice that allegedly show Andrew shared confidential government information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while he served as Britain’s trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.
Virginia Giuffre’s family reacts after Andrew’s arrest
The late Virginia Giuffre was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She publicly claimed she was trafficked as a teenager and forced to have sex with powerful men, including Prince Andrew, who has repeatedly denied all accusations.
The family of the late Virginia Giuffre spoke to NBC News following the arrest of former Prince Andrew.
“It feels like this… uh… a surreal moment in Virginia’s ongoing fight for justice.”
“We are very proud of our sister right now, we are very proud,” said her sister Amanda Roberts.
Skye Roberts, Virginia Giuffre’s younger brother, said, “…I think the UK has taken the first step, which is surprising, and I think there’s a lot more that needs to be done here. I hope they do a full investigation.”
He also added that his sister Virginia once said, “They knew what happened, we knew what happened, and only one of us was telling the truth, and we knew that was us.”
King Charles III said “Laws must follow their laws”
King Charles III expressed his “deepest concern” over his brother’s arrest. In a statement shared with The Times by Buckingham Palace, the king said: “What follows now is a full, fair and appropriate process, with the appropriate bodies investigating this matter in an appropriate manner. In this regard, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation.”
He also emphasized that “the law must follow its laws.” “As this process continues, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on this matter. In the meantime, my family and I will continue to fulfill our responsibilities to serve all of you,” he added.
Prince William and Kate support Charles
Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, publicly supported the king’s response, the Express Tribune reported.
A royal source told People magazine, “The Prince and Princess of Wales fully support His Majesty the King’s statement. They believe it is important that the legal process proceeds without interruption.”
“They remain concerned about the victims involved in these incidents and support the King’s emphasis on accountability,” the source added.
Earlier, a spokesperson for the Welsh family noted, “The Prince and Princess of Wales are aware of the ongoing scrutiny surrounding these issues and are deeply concerned by the continued revelations related to Jeffrey Epstein. Their focus remains on supporting survivors.”
