Andrew, who turned 66 this week, was detained by police at the Sandringham Estate, where he has been residing. He was later released under investigation after several hours in custody. The former royal faces allegations that he shared confidential information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a British trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. He has previously denied wrongdoing and has not publicly commented on the latest development.
Germany
German tabloid Bild described the incident as a “royal shock,” branding Andrew a “fallen prince.” The paper reported that even King Charles III was allegedly unaware of the police operation.
Die Welt ran the headline “Ex-prince at rock bottom,” while Der Tagesspiegel noted that Andrew had already lost his honours, military ranks and royal duties in the wake of the Epstein scandal.
France
French daily Le Parisien led with the headline “Andrew, prince of darkness,” stating that the judicial investigation was only just beginning despite his loss of royal titles.
Le Figaro highlighted what it called his “descent into the inner sanctum” of the Epstein affair.
Spain
In Spain, El Pais described the arrest as an “earthquake” that could become the British royal family’s biggest crisis in decades. La Vanguardia said the episode marked one of the most serious moments in modern royal history, comparing it to the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII and the 1997 death of Princess Diana.
Italy
Italian daily La Repubblica focused on the King’s reported stance, translating his position as “let justice take its course.” La Stampa declared “Sex and secrets, the end of Andrew,” while Il Messaggero described the arrest as the Windsors’ “darkest hour.”
Australia
Australia’s national broadsheet, The Australian, headlined its coverage “Arrest of Andrew: The Royal Reckoning.” The The Daily Telegraph published a sharply critical column, arguing that the monarchy now faces an overdue reckoning over Andrew’s long-running controversies.
United States
In the United States, The New York Times described Andrew as the “disgraced brother” of King Charles III, noting that millions of newly released US Justice Department documents relating to Epstein had intensified scrutiny.
The New York Post reported that emails allegedly showed Andrew sharing official travel details with Epstein, including briefings related to overseas visits.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reflected on the dramatic reversal in Andrew’s fortunes, describing the arrest as a moment that stunned the United Kingdom and marked an unprecedented chapter for the modern monarchy.
The episode represents one of the most serious crises to confront the British royal family in recent history, with global attention now focused on the unfolding investigation and its potential implications for the monarchy.
