Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, was photographed leaving a central London police station on Thursday, February 19, 2026, shortly after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a serious criminal offence under English law.
The 65-year-old royal, eighth in line to the British throne, arrived at the station voluntarily in the early morning accompanied by his legal team. He was detained, interviewed under caution, and formally arrested during the course of the morning. After several hours of questioning, he was released on police bail pending further investigation. No charges have been filed at this stage.
Metropolitan Police confirmed in a brief statement issued Thursday afternoon:
“Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Special Enquiry Team arrested a 65-year-old man today on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has been bailed pending further enquiries. As the investigation is live, we will not be providing any additional comment at this time.”
Photographs taken by press outside the station show Prince Andrew exiting the building wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and tie. He appeared composed but unsmiling as he walked to a waiting vehicle flanked by security personnel and his solicitor. The images, widely circulated by major British and international news outlets, capture the moment he briefly paused to acknowledge waiting photographers before departing.
The arrest stems from an ongoing investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Special Enquiry Team, the unit responsible for high-profile and sensitive cases involving public officials, politicians, and members of the royal family. Misconduct in public office is a common-law offence that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. It typically involves a public office holder wilfully neglecting to perform their duty or wilfully misconducting themselves to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust.
While police have not disclosed the specific allegations, multiple British newspapers (including The Times, The Guardian, and The Telegraph) reported on Thursday that the investigation relates to Prince Andrew’s conduct during his time as a working royal, particularly his associations and financial arrangements in the years following his 2019 Newsnight interview about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke of York has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any criminal offence. In January 2022, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre in a civil sexual assault lawsuit in the United States, without admitting liability. That settlement led to the removal of his military titles and royal patronages by Buckingham Palace, and he has not undertaken public royal duties since 2019.
Buckingham Palace issued a short statement on Thursday afternoon:
“The Duke of York is cooperating fully with the police investigation. He continues to maintain his innocence of any criminal wrongdoing. Out of respect for the ongoing process, neither the Duke nor the Palace will be making any further comment at this time.”
The development has reignited intense media scrutiny of the royal family at a time when King Charles III continues to receive treatment for cancer and the Princess of Wales is recovering from abdominal surgery earlier in 2025. Public reaction on social media has been sharply divided, with some expressing shock and others viewing the arrest as a long-overdue step toward accountability.
Legal analysts note that an arrest on suspicion does not indicate guilt and that the threshold for charging remains high. The investigation is expected to continue for several months, with police likely to review extensive documentary evidence, witness statements, and financial records.
Prince Andrew’s release on bail is standard procedure in cases of this nature and does not imply any presumption of guilt or innocence. Conditions of bail have not been publicly disclosed.
This is the first time a senior member of the British royal family has been arrested in modern history. The Metropolitan Police emphasised that the investigation is being conducted “without fear or favour” and in full accordance with the law.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
