Police search Andrew’s former home as royal family reels from arrest

SANDRINGHAM: Police searched the former home of ex-prince Andrew for a second day on Friday, as his sensational arrest tipped the British monarchy into a crisis unprecedented in its modern era.

The disgraced royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was “released under investigation” late on Thursday after hours of questioning, as police probe misconduct claims over his links to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

During 11 hours in custody, police raided his current home on the private Sandringham Estate belonging to his brother, King Charles III, and his previous residence in Windsor, west of London.

Footage showed police back at Mountbatten-Windsor’s former Royal Lodge home on the Windsor estate, with large black unmarked vans believed to be police vehicles on site.

Meanwhile, Mountbatten-Win­dsor — who was marking his 66th birthday when arrested was nowhere to be seen, hunkering down within the sprawling grounds of Sandringham in Norfolk, eastern England.

King Charles III issued a rare, personally signed statement insisting “the law must take its course” and sought to project a business-as-usual air, carrying out public duties, including opening the London Fashion Week.

But royal commentators were in no doubt the first arrest of a senior royal in centuries signalled a profound crisis.

“It’s a hugely significant moment for the British monarchy,” royal expert Ed Owens said, noting much remained unclear including whether Mountbatten-Windsor would be criminally charged.

“It’s the unknown elements in this particular instance that I think pose so much concern and arguably a threat to the monarchy.”

‘Bad apple’

Almost all Britain’s newspapers carried on their front pages a photograph of the disgraced royal, looking haggard and wild-eyed as he left a Norfolk police station in a vehicle.

“Downfall”, headlined the Daily Mail headline.

The Sun tabloid noted that, like anyone arrested, Mountbatten-Windsor would have had a DNA saliva swab taken along with his finger prints and a photograph.

Once a Falklands War hero and reportedly the late Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite son, Mountbatten-Windsor is now deeply unpopular with Britons.

“I’m really pleased that nobody’s above the law,” Jo Mortimer, 64, who lives in the Norfolk town of Aylsham where Mountbatten-Windsor was held in custody, said.

Fellow local Jacob Twomey, 27, noted he was “young enough that I’ve only ever heard him as a headline” in newspapers.

The retail store worker added he still “liked” the royals and thought the ex-prince was just “one bad apple”.

A YouGov poll conducted after Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest showed 82 per cent believed he should be removed from the line of succession. He remains eighth in line to the throne.

“Andrew must be removed … don’t argue why it is difficult. Just do it,” veteran royal expert Robert Jobson wrote in The Sun.

Royal editor of the Sunday Times Roya Nikkah told the BBC: “I think trust in the institution is really at risk of being eroded.”

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2026

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