Ex-Prince Andrew Spends His 66th Birthday With The British Police

Balloons and confetti poppers did not make the list for Ex-Prince Andrew's birthday celebrations, but a ride with police men did.

The disgraced royal was reportedly taken in by police from his residence on his 66th birthday on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The reason behind his arrest has been disclosed, and connections have been found between him and Jeffrey Epstein in the recently released files.

Ex-Prince Andrew has slowly been sinking into a mire with his status, and members of the royal family have made moves to keep him at arm's length after he was officially stripped of all his titles last year.

Formerly known as Prince Andrew, the ex-royal has been taken into custody for suspicion of misconduct in public office, marking his 66th birthday most unconventionally.

According to shared reports, what led to his being arrested is information in the Epstein files about activities while he was a trade envoy. The U.K.'s Thames Valley Police got involved as information spread about the exchange of documents between Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein.

The police did not confirm that the former Prince was arrested, but rather kept things vague in their statement, which read that they "arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office." 

BBC and other news outlets, however, identified Andrew as the man being arrested after the police force insisted they would not reveal his identity. 

Besides the arrest, searches were being carried out at addresses in Norfolk and Berkshire, with the Royal Lodge being the only address being searched at the moment in Berkshire after unmarked police vehicles filled the vicinity.

The Assistant Chief Constable, Oliver Wright, shared an update in a statement saying, "Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office."

He noted that while the force understands the importance of protecting the integrity and objectivity of the investigations of the alleged offense, the case would not be hidden from the public eye.

Wright then assured that updates will be provided at the appropriate times, as they acknowledge the piqued public interest in the case. Before Andrew would be charged for the alleged crime, the investigators must check off four important factors surrounding the said crime.

The person must have occupied a public office during the period the activity took place and willfully neglected their duty. Also, detectives must establish that their actions were indeed an abuse of public trust, and finally, that the suspect acted "without reasonable excuse or justification."

Andrew's arrest also gives the authorities access to his current residence as well as any premises he owns, controls, or occupies.

Also, his computer equipment, files, photographs, and any other evidence are not out of bounds. Notably, he cannot be held in custody for over 96 hours before being charged or released pending further investigation.

While Andrew maintains his innocence, previously denying any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, recent updates raise dust about his stance.

The released files show that the two remained in touch, debunking Andrew's initial claims of cutting ties with Epstein in 2010. The Blast previously shared that photos on the docs captured Andrew with some ladies whose faces were redacted in questionable positions.

The former Prince has faced backlash since the newly released documents came to light, from the public and his family. The heat has reportedly taken a toll on his mental health as sources claim he is isolated, emotionally fragile, and could resort to self-harm.

Andrew's daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, have been struggling emotionally with the scandal following their father's involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.

While they lean on each other for emotional support during this period, royal observers reveal that the York princesses are "devastated," and their trust in their parents has taken a dip.

The Blast reported that the princesses feel embarrassed, horrified, and frustrated with their parents and have since distanced themselves from their father. The sisters, now mothers, have chosen to focus on their families and careers during this period while trying to heal and shut out the mortifying scandal.

After Andrew was stripped of his titles, he was also kicked out of the royal estate and sent to live on the King's Sandringham estate. Upon his arrival at his new abode, the former royal was reportedly horrified, describing the estate as "beneath him."

The Blast shared that Andrew threw a tantrum, complaining about certain amenities and requesting a full home makeover, charged to his brother, King Charles account.

"He wants a golf course, stables, shooting rights — the works, he's talking about gutting the bathrooms, redoing the kitchen, rebuilding servant quarters, and upgrading every inch," a close source revealed. He also requested a fleet of cars and drivers, all of which King Charles is expected to pay for.