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Topics: Prince William, Prince Andrew, Royal Family, King Charles III, UK News
Callum Jones
Topics: Prince William, Prince Andrew, Royal Family, King Charles III, UK News
Prince William has spoken out in a first public appearance since his uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office last week.
Thames Valley Police said on Thursday (February 19) that the former Prince Andrew had been detained after unmarked police cars descended on the former prince's home on the Sandringham Estate.
Authorities said in a statement they had arrested a man in his sixties 'on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk'.
Andrew was released later on Thursday, with a police investigation ongoing.
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It's the biggest scandal to have hit the Royal Family in a generation, with Prince William speaking out following his uncle's arrest.
The next in line to the throne was asked by a reporter at the Baftas on Sunday (February 22) if he had seen the movie Hamnet, to which he replied: "I need to be in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment."
After it was revealed Andrew had been arrested, King Charles III issued a statement to express his 'deepest concern'.
He said: "I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office.
"What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities."
The statement continued: "In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.
"Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all. Charles R."
In an interview with Sky News, the former UK royal protection, Dai Davies, stated it 'inconceivable' that Andrew's guards didn't see first hand any alleged misconduct.
"Wherever he (Mr Mountbatten-Windsor) went, he would have had a team of protection officers and they would have been with him normally 24 hours a day," Davies said.
"Clearly at night they're not in the bedroom with him, but they're nearby, so that in the event of an incident, they could act in accordance with their training."
Thames Valley Police have been investigating a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his time as a trade envoy.
In recent years, Andrew has faced allegations by Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein accuser, that she was made to have sex with the former prince in the early 2000s when she was 17.
Andrew has long denied any wrongdoing.