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Published 19:42 19 Feb 2026 GMT
Former senior royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been released under investigation by the police this evening after being held earlier in the day by Thames Valley Police.
He was pictured leaving the police station, with officers escorting him into a waiting vehicle and media capturing the moment as he departed the building. 
The arrest came after detectives took him into custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
That investigation centres on allegations linked to his conduct as a UK trade envoy and material connected to the late Jeffrey Epstein. 
Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal titles last year amid ongoing controversy over his association with Epstein, has denied any wrongdoing.
He was held under police powers while officers continued to review evidence and question him. 
King Charles III said the law must take its course, stressing that the investigation should proceed without interference, and Buckingham Palace has said it will cooperate with police. 
As the story develops, police searches are understood to be ongoing at properties linked to Mountbatten-Windsor, including his former residence, and further legal steps will depend on what detectives uncover next.
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