Prince Andrew Released Under Investigation
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was released under investigation following his arrest. The arrest was connected to developments from the revelations in the Epstein files, according to reports.
- The investigation stems from his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, to whom he was introduced by the now-convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in the 1990s. - In a widely-criticized 2019 BBC "Newsnight" interview, Andrew denied allegations he had sex with a 17-year-old named Virginia Giuffre, claiming he had a medical condition that prevented him from sweating and that he had no recollection of ever meeting her. - Following the interview, he stepped back from public duties in November 2019, stating his association with Epstein had become a "major disruption" to the Royal Family's work. - Virginia Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against him in the U.S. for sexual assault in August 2021. The case was settled out of court in February 2022 for an undisclosed sum, with no admission of liability from Andrew. - In January 2022, his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, stripped him of his military titles and he stopped using the "His Royal Highness" style in any official capacity. - Emails released in February 2026 suggest that while serving as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, Andrew may have shared confidential government information with Epstein. - In October 2025, his brother, King Charles III, removed his remaining royal styles and honors.
