Crouching in the car

First photo! Andrew has left the police station

Ex-royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor left the police station late Thursday evening.(Bild: APA-Images / REUTERS / Phil Noble)

A few hours after his arrest on suspicion of abuse of office, former royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has left the police station. Crouching in the back seat of a car, the disgraced prince tried to hide from the cameras. 

The brother of King Charles had been taken into custody on Thursday afternoon at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Andrew (66), who was involved in the Epstein scandal, is accused of misconduct in public office. 

British media called the affair an "unprecedented incident," but King Charles said shortly after the arrest: "Let me be clear: the law must take its course."

Andrew had already lost all his honors, military ranks, and titles because of his involvement in the scandal. He is no longer a prince, but just a commoner. He also had to move out of his estate on the grounds of Windsor Castle because his brother had ordered it.

What does this mean for the British monarchy?
For years, Andrew has undoubtedly been the biggest burden on the British monarchy. Now, at the latest, royal experts agree: it will take a very long time for the royals to recover from this setback. Andrew's arrest is "probably the worst nightmare" for the royal family, former BBC correspondent Jennie Bond told Sky News. According to British media reports, the palace knew nothing about the impending arrest.

Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt expressed similar sentiments, according to the PA news agency. "The arrest of the eighth in line to the British throne is seismic. Senior royals are now in uncharted waters for which they are ill-equipped." According to Hunt, they too must answer questions about Andrew "and be held accountable" — a circumstance that has been foreign to the family until now.