Will King Charles have to abdicate now? How former Prince Andrew’s arrest could impact the British Royal Family

Former Prince Andrew’s close connections with Jeffrey Epstein have been a constant strain on the British Royal Family. In 2022, he reached a multi-million-dollar out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who claimed that the late sex offender and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell trafficked her to the then Duke of York, and other prominent men, when she was just a teenager.

It was also revealed last year that the former prince maintained a friendly relationship with Epstein long after he had said that he had ceased contact with the disgraced financier. While Andrew has strenuously denied any wrongdoing, additional allegations about his private life coming to light prompted the former Royal to voluntarily relinquished the use of his titles and honors in October 2025.

The following month, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was formally stripped of “His Royal Highness” status and the title of “Prince” by his brother King Charles III to help distance the British monarchy from a constant stream of scandals arising from revelations about the friendship of Andrew and Epstein.

More recently, with the partial release of the Epstein files held by the U.S. Department of Justice a new scandal arose. While Andrew was the U.K.’s trade envoy to the United States it appears that he may have passed confidential commercial information and government documents to Epstein.

Andrew’s royally unwelcome arrest for British monarch

That prompted an investigation by the Thames Valley Police which has resulted in the arrest of Andrew on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The fresh headache for the Royal Family has some people calling for King Charles III to abdicate.

It appears though that for the time being the British monarch is taking the advice of Andrew Lownie. The royal biographer and historian said on TalkTV earlier this week that “King Charles needs to be very clear that he will cooperate that he allow his staff to give statements to the police and provide all the internal correspondence, all the complaints that were made about Andrew, all the material the police need to mount a proper investigation.”

In a statement released by the King after his brother’s arrest, Charles III 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.”

“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,” he added.

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