Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrest LIVE updates: Former prince arrested by UK police at Sandringham estate amid Epstein scandal

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Here’s what we know so far:

• Six unmarked police cars and around eight plain-clothed officers were seen arriving at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate on Thursday morning (UK time).
• Mountbatten-Windsor was placed under arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office and remains in custody.
• A police statement confirmed searches are being carried out in relation to the arrest in Berkshire and Norfolk, and that an investigation has been opened.

It was only a few weeks ago that Mountbatten-Windsor moved to Wood Farm, after it was confirmed in October last year that he would leave Royal Lodge, the grand Windsor estate he had lived in since 2002.

His departure from Royal Lodge was expedited amid the fallout of the most recent tranche of the Epstein files.

Wood Farm forms part of the King’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, and was intended to be a temporary home for Mountbatten-Windsor while his permanent home, believed to be Marsh Farm, was renovated.

Mountbatten-Windsor’s father Prince Philip spent much of his retirement at Wood Farm, a small house by royal standards. Placed within the grounds of Sandringham, it is sheltered from public scrutiny and the press.

The former prince has been under scrutiny for years over his ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but the most recent tranche of files, as well as other revelations, brought fresh attention to his work as a UK trade envoy.

London’s Telegraph revealed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded a confidential Treasury briefing to a banker friend while he was trade envoy.

The email disclosures raised fresh questions over the extent to which Mountbatten-Windsor may have been leaking sensitive information to his friends during his time as trade envoy, a post he held from 2001 to 2011.

It had also emerged that the former prince had forwarded private briefings to external sources, including Epstein.

Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said he regrets his friendship with Epstein, but he has not responded to specific requests for comment after the latest files were published by the US government.

It was around 10am in the UK when police arrived at Wood Farm, a house on the Sandringham Estate where Mountbatten-Windsor has been living since he was evicted from his Windsor home.

It also happened to be his 66th birthday.

In addition to the police statement, Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said Thames Valley Police had opened an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office, “following a thorough assessment”.

“It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence,” Wright said.

“We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”

The BBC has just published the Thames Valley Police statement in relation to the arrest.

Here it is in full:

As part of the investigation, we have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.

The man remains in police custody at this time.

We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance. Please also remember that this case is now active so care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court.”

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Here’s what we know so far:

• Six unmarked police cars and around eight plain-clothed officers were seen arriving at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate on Thursday morning (UK time).
• Mountbatten-Windsor was placed under arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office and remains in custody.
• A police statement confirmed searches are being carried out in relation to the arrest in Berkshire and Norfolk, and that an investigation has been opened.