Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, although this is only used in rare circumstances.
Although the former Duke of York was released from police custody 11 hours after his initial arrest at Norfolk’s Wood Farm, on his 66th birthday, he still remains under investigation.
No charges have yet been brought against Andrew, but if he ends up in court, will the public be the ones who have to foot his legal bill? According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the public will not be expected to front Andrew’s legal costs, and it’s unlikely that King Charles would also contribute to his younger brother’s fees.
Andrew is likely to be represented in any court case by Gary Bloxsome, a criminal defence barrister who was hired by the former Duke of York back in 2020. Members of the royal family had previously been represented by law firm Harbottle & Lewis, but Andrew was cut off following his interview on Newsnight in 2019.
When it came to his legal battle against Virginia Giuffre, which was settled out of court, FOI requests published in 2022 revealed that none of the money in the settlement came from neither the public nor the Sovereign Grant.
In 2024, Andrew was able to raise the money he needed to remain living in Royal Lodge. The move was reportedly cleared by Sir Michael Stevens, the keeper of the privy purse, meaning that it had come from legitimate sources.
Andrew’s arrest
On Thursday, Andrew was arrested at his temporary home, Wood Farm, on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. Plain-clothed police officers were seen arriving at the property in the early hours of the morning. Andrew was held in custody for 11 hours, before being released, although he remains under investigation.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: “The arrested man has now been released under investigation. We can also confirm that our searches in Norfolk have now concluded. The force said its searches in Berkshire are still under way, and that it would make no further statement at this time.”
An earlier statement from the force read: “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.”
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