King Charles III said he would cooperate with a police investigation into claims that his brother, the former Prince Andrew, shared confidential trade details with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The palace stated after Thames Valley Police confirmed they were reviewing reports that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sent trade documents to Epstein in 2010. The police force covers the region that includes Windsor, where the former prince once lived at Royal Lodge.
The palace also reiterated the concern expressed by King Charles and Queen Camilla for those harmed by Epstein.
The statement also said that although the former prince must personally respond to the allegations, the palace is ready to fully assist Thames Valley Police if investigators reach out.
The inquiry arises from information contained in more than three million documents released by the U.S. Justice Department during its Epstein investigation. Emails appear to show Andrew provided Epstein with his Southeast Asia trip schedule and later forwarded summaries of the trip.
The former prince completed the 2010 tour while serving as the U.K.’s international trade envoy, visiting Hanoi, Saigon, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong over 12 days.
Thames Valley Police confirmed they received the report and are reviewing the material under standard protocols. Graham Smith, head of the anti-monarchy group Republic, filed the complaint alleging potential misuse of public office and breaches of the U.K.’s Official Secrets Act.
Smith, whose group advocates replacing the monarchy with an elected head of state, pointed to similarities between this case and that of Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the U.S., who is also under police scrutiny for allegedly sharing sensitive details with Epstein according to Justice Department files.
The palace also addressed a separate allegation currently under police review. On Feb. 1, a U.S. lawyer said he represented a woman who claims Epstein flew her to the U.K. in 2010 for sexual activity with Andrew at Royal Lodge.
Prince William and Princess Catherine issued their first public statement regarding the Epstein disclosures as the scandal continued to impact the royal family. A spokesperson said the couple has been deeply troubled by the new information and remains focused on the victims. The palace also reiterated the concern expressed by King Charles and Queen Camilla for those harmed by Epstein.
The royal family’s vulnerability to the controversy became apparent during the king’s visit to Lancashire, where amid applause and cheering, someone called out asking how long he had known about Andrew.
The former prince’s ties to Epstein have cast a long shadow over the monarchy for more than a decade. Numerous emails between the two were exchanged even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
Queen Elizabeth II required her second son to step down from royal duties in 2019 after he tried to defend his relationship with Epstein during a disastrous BBC interview. Her decision followed rising public anger over his continued contact with Epstein despite the conviction.
King Charles has taken extraordinary steps to separate the monarchy from his brother. He removed Andrew’s title of prince and compelled him to leave Royal Lodge.
On Monday, Feb. 2, the king hastened Andrew’s exit from the royal property near Windsor Castle, forcing him to move out months earlier than expected. The action followed growing frustration that the former prince still benefited from royal privileges even though he no longer served as a working royal.
Andrew is now living on the king’s Sandringham estate, where he will temporarily stay at Wood Farm Cottage.
The Justice Department’s release marks one of the largest public disclosures of investigative material in recent years. The documents provide detailed insights into Epstein’s global network of wealthy and influential contacts.
The royal family has faced many controversies throughout its history, but the Epstein allegations present unprecedented difficulties. With ongoing document releases, additional revelations may continue surfacing for months, keeping the scandal in the public eye.
On Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 — his 66th birthday — Thames Valley Police arrested Andrew at the Royal Sandringham Estate on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Officers arrived at 8 a.m. and took him to Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk for questioning, where he was held for 11 hours before being released under investigation that evening.
Photographs showed a distressed-looking Mountbatten-Windsor slouched in the back seat of his chauffeur-driven car as he departed the police station.
The arrest marked an unprecedented moment in modern British history for the British monarchy. Police also conducted searches at both his former residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor and his current home at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate.
Andrew remains under investigation, meaning he has neither been charged nor exonerated, as authorities continue to examine whether he shared confidential trade documents with Epstein during his tenure as the U.K.’s international trade envoy.