Prince Andrew, whose full name is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was briefly detained by British police on Thursday, February 19, 2026, as part of an investigation related to his former role as Special Envoy for International Trade. This detention comes as a continuation of the investigation into his relationship with the American financier Jeffrey Epstein, a case that continues to have repercussions within the British monarchy.

According to several international media outlets, the Duke of York was questioned on suspicion of misconduct in the performance of his official duties between 2001 and 2011, a period during which he represented the United Kingdom abroad. Investigators are particularly interested in determining whether he may have passed on sensitive information as part of his contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. After several hours of questioning at a Norfolk police station, he was released without charge. At this stage, he is therefore not subject to any legal proceedings or conviction, although the investigation is ongoing.

This episode represents a further setback for Prince Andrew, who has already been forced for several years to withdraw from all official duties due to the controversy surrounding his ties to Epstein. The financial settlement reached in 2022 in a civil case in the United States marked his definitive removal from royal public life, although he retains his title of Duke of York. Even without an institutional role, his name remains associated with the royal family, giving this affair significant symbolic and media attention.

The facts examined in this investigation do not concern any new sexual allegations, but exclusively his past actions as an official representative of the United Kingdom. In a context where the British monarchy is striving to preserve its image and credibility, this questioning, even without charges being filed, reignites the debate about the relationships some of its members have maintained with controversial figures. The future of the case will now depend on the conclusions of the investigating authorities and a possible judicial decision in the coming weeks.