King Charles III attended London Fashion Week on Thursday, February 19, just hours after his brother, Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, in a development that has intensified scrutiny of the royal family.
The monarch arrived at 180 Studios on The Strand in central London wearing a dark suit and was met with a mixed public reaction. Cheers, shouts and audible groans could be heard from sections of the crowd gathered outside the venue, reflecting the tension surrounding the unfolding investigation.
Earlier in the day, the King issued a statement expressing deep concern over the arrest and affirming that legal processes must proceed without interference. He said the matter would be handled through a full, fair and proper process led by the appropriate authorities. He added that it would not be right for him to comment further as the investigation continues, and stressed that his family would remain focused on public duty and service.
According to the Press Association, neither the King nor Buckingham Palace was informed in advance of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest. The Prince and Princess of Wales are understood to support the King’s position, underscoring a coordinated institutional response at a sensitive moment for the monarchy.
Despite the shock arrest, Charles maintained his official schedule. Around midday, he held three separate in person audiences at St James’s Palace. In the Throne Room, he received Spanish ambassador Emma Aparici Vazquez de Parga, El Salvador’s ambassador Francisco Lima Mena and Kenya’s high commissioner Maurice Makoloo. The engagements signaled an effort to project continuity and stability amid mounting controversy.
Thames Valley Police confirmed it has opened a formal investigation into allegations linked to the former Duke of York. The force had previously reviewed claims that a woman was trafficked to the United Kingdom by Jeffrey Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew, as well as allegations that sensitive information was shared during Andrew’s tenure as the UK’s trade envoy.
Images circulating online appeared to show unmarked police vehicles stationed at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, a property believed to be Andrew’s residence. Plain clothed officers were seen outside the home. Police said searches are also being conducted at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk as part of the inquiry.
Additional pressure emerged following the release of emails by the US Department of Justice. The correspondence appeared to show the former duke sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore. One email dated November 2010 was reportedly forwarded minutes after it was sent by his then special adviser, Amir Patel. Another message, sent on Christmas Eve 2010, appeared to include a confidential brief on investment opportunities tied to the reconstruction of Helmand Province in Afghanistan.
Andrew has denied wrongdoing in relation to his links with Epstein, but he has not directly addressed the latest allegations. Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said that after a thorough assessment, police had opened an investigation into the alleged misconduct in public office. He stressed the importance of protecting the integrity and objectivity of the inquiry while acknowledging significant public interest. Updates, he said, would be provided at the appropriate time.
The arrest marks a significant escalation in legal and reputational challenges facing the royal family. For King Charles, the decision to continue public engagements underscores a strategy of institutional steadiness, even as investigators examine allegations that could have far reaching implications for the monarchy’s standing at home and abroad.
