Alison Hammond, co-host of This Morning, faced backlash after making a remark considered “moronic” regarding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest during a live broadcast.
During the morning show’s news segment, Alison was joined by Dermot O’Leary, Nick Ferrari, and Sonia Sodha. The discussion focused on Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest under suspicion of misconduct in public office.
On Thursday, news broke that the former royal was apprehended on his 66th birthday. The arrest took place at the Sandringham Estate, where plain-clothed officers arrived in six unmarked police vehicles shortly after 8 a.m.
A police spokesperson confirmed that searches were being conducted at two locations: one in Norfolk, believed to be Wood Farm where he resides, and another in Berkshire, likely Royal Lodge in Windsor, his home for over two decades until recently.
“The individual remains in police custody at this time,” the spokesperson stated, while the exact location of Mountbatten-Windsor’s detention was not disclosed.
At the start of the program, Alison, 51, did not hesitate to share her thoughts on the fact that the arrest coincided with Mountbatten-Windsor’s birthday, sparking further discussion.
This Morning host Alison Hammond has been blasted for making a ‘moronic’ comment about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest live on air
On Thursday, it was revealed that the former royal was arrested on his 66th birthday, as plain-clothed officers arrived at the Sandringham Estate in six unmarked police cars just after 8am
She told her co-stars: ‘They could’ve done it yesterday, the day before his birthday.’
Alison continued: ‘It is developing, we don’t know very much beyond what you’ve just said. All we know is that police can tell you.’
Viewers of the ITV series immediately flooded social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to hit back against Alison’s comment, calling it ‘weird’.
One penned: ‘Alison saying “surely they didn’t have to arrest him on his birthday”. What a weird comment about an “alleged” predator.’
Another chimed in: ‘Imagine if Alison was a police officer. Her boss: “We’re arresting Prince Andrew in the morning” Alison: “We can’t be doing that bab, it’s his birthday tomorrow, he’s probably made plans”.’
A third hit out at Alison, calling her a ‘moron’ for making the suggestion that the police had ‘spoiled his birthday’, writing: ‘Shouldn’t spoil his birthday. F**king moron.’
‘Alison saying they shouldn’t arrest him on his birthday?’ a fourth added, while a fifth wrote: ‘Alison so far out of her depth here. Dreadful.’
‘Alison says the stupid part out loud again,’ someone else concluded.
Alison told her co-stars: ‘They could’ve done it yesterday, the day before his birthday’
Viewers of the ITV series immediately flooded social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to hit back against Alison’s comment, calling it ‘weird’
Thames Valley Police held the eighth in line to the British throne on suspicion of misconduct in public office this morning.
The Daily Mail was the first to reveal plain-clothes police, carried in six unmarked vehicles, had arrived at Wood Farm, where Andrew now lives.
A convoy including at least two royal Land Rovers linked to Andrew was photographed leaving the estate less than an hour later. His arrest was confirmed at 10.08am.
For the past ten days detectives have been probing his conduct as a trade envoy for the UK after emails in the Epstein Files suggested he shared confidential information with his paedophile friend including reports of his official visits and potential investment opportunities.
A Thames Valley spokesman said today: ‘We have today arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office’.
The force said its officers are searching an address in Norfolk – believed to be Wood Farm where Andrew is exiled – and an address in Berkshire, likely to be Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he lived for more than 20 years until this month.
Thames Valley Police held the eighth in line to the British throne on suspicion of misconduct in public office this morning
The Daily Mail was the first to reveal plain-clothes police, carried in six unmarked vehicles, had arrived at Wood Farm, where Andrew now lives
‘The man remains in police custody at this time’, the spokesman said – but the force would not confirm where Andrew, who is celebrating his birthday today, had been taken.
Norfolk Police said it is ‘supporting’ the Thames Valley investigation but did not say if one of its stations was being used by detectives to interview Andrew.
Thames Valley Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: ‘Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.
‘It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence.
‘We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.’
Onlookers said the group of eight people were in plain clothes ‘but appeared to be police officers’. One man appeared to be carrying a police-issue laptop.
They parked close to Prince Philip’s former home Wood Farm, where Andrew has been exiled. A convoy of vehicles was then photographed leaving.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on his birthday and is in police custody
Thames Valley Police previously said the force was reviewing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Andrew, and claims he shared sensitive information with the paedophile while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
Searches are being carried out at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk, the force said.
Emails released by the US Department of Justice appeared to show the former duke sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore.
One email, dated November 2010, appeared to be forwarded by Andrew five minutes after being sent by his then-special adviser Amir Patel.
Another, on Christmas Eve 2010, appeared to send Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Andrew, who turns 66 today, had been staying at Sandringham after being evicted by his older brother from Royal Lodge in Windsor following the Epstein.
Police popped up at Sandringham as Sir Keir Starmer claimed ‘nobody is above the law’ in the UK and nine UK police forces assess whether to launch investigations into Epstein-related allegations including human trafficking and sexual assault.
Andrew is yet to be spoken to by detectives, who are assessing a range of allegations related to sex trafficking and misconduct in public office and sex trafficking. But his brother King Charles said he stands ready to help the police with their inquiries.
The Queen’s second son may have passed sensitive information to Epstein in his role as a UK trade envoy. There are also claims he may have smuggled a woman into Buckingham Palace who may have been trafficked into Britain on Epstein’s ‘Lolita Express’ jet.
Andrew denies any wrongdoing. No official comment has yet been made.
A number of police forces are understood to be looking into allegations around trafficking that have surfaced in the huge number or documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein in the UK.
The Metropolitan Police said yesterday it is carrying out ‘initial inquiries’ into allegations relating to close protection officers formerly assigned to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
In a statement, the Met said it had ‘not identified any wrongdoing’ but ‘initial enquiries into these specific allegations have begun’.
The disgraced former Prince has been exiled to a remote cottage, Wood Farm, on the edges of the Sandringham estate.
The disgraced former prince is thought to have moved into the five-bedroom cottage earlier this month.
Wood Farm, the property where his father, the Duke of Edinburgh spent much of his final years, is hidden from public view around 300 yards down a private driveway in Wolferton on the edge of the Norfolk estate.
He has been accompanied by two police officers assigned to protect Andrew.
The King’s younger brother was pictured in the Epstein files kneeling over a young women.
He is also facing questions over emails suggesting he shared private information from his role as a UK trade envoy with the billionaire financier.
The royal is also being urged to give evidence to the US congressional investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
