Former Prince Andrew has been released under investigation as detectives continue searching his Berkshire residence over allegations of misconduct in public office.

In an unprecedented move that has shaken the British monarchy, former Prince Andrew was arrested and questioned for 11 hours before being released as police intensify their search of his Royal Lodge estate.

The dramatic escalation in the investigation, linked to the infamous Epstein files, marks a historic crisis for the Royal Family. The global fascination with the monarchy ensures this scandal will resonate deeply, capturing the attention of audiences from London to Nairobi.

An Arrest Without Modern Precedent

In a scenario unimaginable just years ago, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the 66-year-old former senior royal, was formally detained by Thames Valley Police on the morning of his birthday. The arrest, executed on severe suspicion of misconduct in public office, firmly establishes him as the absolute first senior member of the British royal family to face such criminal proceedings in nearly four centuries.

Following an intense 11-hour interrogation at the Aylsham police station in Norfolk, Andrew was officially released under active investigation. However, the legal ordeal is far from concluded. A specialized cadre of detectives and forensic officers immediately launched extensive, meticulous searches across his opulent properties.

The Search of the Royal Lodge

While investigations at his Norfolk residence within the Sandringham Estate have officially concluded, the intense focus has decisively shifted to the Royal Lodge located in Berkshire. Early Friday morning, a convoy of unmarked police vans abruptly descended upon the sprawling estate, navigating past heavily fortified security gates and crowds of international media.

• Officers are meticulously sweeping the 30-room mansion.
• Digital devices, private communications, and archival records are primary targets.
• The search aims to uncover classified documents allegedly shared illicitly.

The core of the investigation revolves around newly surfaced allegations stemming from the recently unsealed Jeffrey Epstein files. Authorities are aggressively probing claims that Andrew, during his tenure as the UK's official trade envoy, unlawfully shared highly sensitive government intelligence and confidential reports regarding foreign visits with the convicted sex offender.

The Monarchy Responds to the Crisis

The shockwaves of the arrest quickly reached the highest echelons of the British state. King Charles III, who was reportedly entirely unaware of the impending police action until moments before it occurred, issued a somber but resolute statement. Emphasizing total transparency, the monarch declared that "the law must take its course," pledging the royal family's "full and wholehearted support and co-operation" with the police investigation.

This steadfast commitment to legal process signifies a brutal, definitive severing of the protective shield that historically insulated senior royals from civilian criminal justice. Observers in Commonwealth nations like Kenya view this development as a profound, irreversible shift in the constitutional dynamics of the British monarchy.

International Repercussions

The scandal has rapidly drawn intense international commentary. Former US President Donald Trump publicly lamented the situation, describing the arrest as a "very sad thing" for the royal family, while simultaneously praising King Charles ahead of an anticipated state visit.

Meanwhile, the family of Ghislaine Maxwell—Epstein's convicted accomplice—released a deeply cynical statement demanding "transparency, evidence, and the same rules for everyone."

As the forensic search of the Royal Lodge meticulously continues, the former prince remains enveloped in a dark cloud of profound legal jeopardy.

"The absolute untouchability of the crown has officially ended; the era of strict accountability has truly begun," remarked a seasoned constitutional scholar analyzing the crisis.