On Thursday night, an exhausted Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was seen leaving a police station after an unexpected arrest that captured global attention.

Earlier in the day, officers arrived at his residence on the Sandringham estate, taking him into custody on charges of suspected misconduct in public office. Following an exhaustive 11-hour inquiry, Andrew was released, although the investigation remains ongoing.

This arrest has thrown the monarchy into its most significant turmoil in nearly four centuries. The King, Andrew’s brother, emphasized the necessity for Andrew to fully face the legal system, asserting, “The law must take its course.”

In a rare and momentous public statement, the 77-year-old King Charles voiced his “deepest concern” over the incident that unfolded on Andrew’s 66th birthday. He also acknowledged the extraordinary nature of the police action that morning.

The King assured that he would offer his “full and wholehearted support and cooperation” with the continuing police inquiry.

The charge against Andrew, while infrequently seen, is severe and subject to trial by jury, potentially resulting in a life sentence if convicted.

He has not yet been charged.

Andrew’s arrest sensationally took place on the monarch’s private estate in Norfolk, to where the former Duke of York was recently exiled following his public disgrace.

Andrew appeared terrified after being released from police custody on Thursday evening 

Vans approach Royal Lodge, a property on the estate surrounding Windsor Castle and a former residence of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, earlier on Thursday

Police officers at the entrance to the Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate

Windsor: Police officers seen at the gates of Andrew’s former home in Berkshire, Royal Lodge

Following days of behind-closed-doors planning, officers from Thames Valley Police swept along the Sandringham roads in six unmarked police vehicles at 8am.

In the tightly co-ordinated operation, one car advanced on Wood Farm – Prince Philip’s former home which is being used as a temporary bolt-hole by Andrew – via its main driveway while the others circled towards the back, blocking the rear entrance of the five-bedroom property.

While Andrew was being taken into custody at the unassuming Aylsham Police Station about an hour away, a simultaneous raid was being launched 130 miles west at Royal Lodge, his former home in the grounds of Windsor Great Park.

Andrew’s recent departure from the mansion was so swift that many of his belongings remain in the property.

Neither the King nor Buckingham Palace were informed in advance, signalling the police’s determination to show that no-one – not even a former prince – is above the law.

Just after 7pm, following a day of being questioned, he emerged red-eyed and jowly, the image of his release encapsulating his fall from grace as he tried to cower on the back seat of a car driven by privately funded security guards.

The ex-Duke is accused of passing potentially confidential and sensitive documents to his friend, convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, while working as a UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.

The clamour for a police investigation had reached a crescendo in recent days following revelations in the three million pages of Epstein Files released by the US Department of Justice at the end of last month.

The investigation and now arrest of a senior member of the Royal Family – the first since Charles I was taken prisoner by parliamentarians in 1637 – has sparked an unprecedented crisis for the monarchy.

While the King has done his best to distance himself from his disgraced brother, including stripping him of his remaining titles and securing his departure from his Royal Lodge mansion last October, the charge still relates to his time as a working royal.

It will, inevitably, raise questions as to who else knew about his behaviour during the decade he served as the UK’s globe-trotting ‘special representative’ for trade and industry, apparently feathering both his own nest and those of his questionable friends.

And it could see senior royal officials, both past and present, dragged into the official police investigations – as well as other members of the royal family, most notably his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie as possible witnesses.

They have all been frequently referred to in Epstein’s recently revealed correspondence, particularly the former duchess.

On a day which will, inevitably, cast a long shadow over the monarchy for generations to come, it also emerged that:

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Jeffrey Epstein in December 2010

News that police were on the Sandringham estate was broken by dailymail.co.uk shortly after a convoy led by an unmarked police car, followed by a Land Rover carrying the ex-prince’s security detail, was seen leaving Sandringham.

His extraordinary arrest was confirmed at just after 10am.

Several uniformed police officers stood guard at the gates of the Royal Lodge as detectives painstakingly picked through the vast 30-room property for several hours.

A steady stream of unmarked police cars and vans, along with blacked out SUVs, were seen entering the idyllic grounds where the search appeared to continue until about 4pm.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that ‘a man in his sixties’ had been arrested in Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

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.’

Norfolk Police said it was ‘supporting a Thames Valley Police investigation into misconduct in a public office’.

A photograph of Andrew lying on the floor with a young woman emerged as part of the DOJ’s Epstein document release last month

At 12pm Charles issued his landmark statement, in which he tersely and impersonally referred to his brother only as ‘Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’.

He 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. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.’

Significantly, it was signed ‘Charles R. ‘, signifying this was a rare personal statement.

Royal insiders acknowledged the investigation will likely open a ‘Pandora’s Box’ for the Royal Family, striking at the heart of their unique role in public life: a criminal investigation into the conduct of a senior member of the Royal Family in the course of their public duties.

Experts say Thames Valley Police are only at the start of their investigations, which will likely take months to conclude. The possibility of charges would be decided in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Thames Valley Police confirmed shortly after 7.30pm on Thursday that Andrew had been released from custody.

In a statement, they said: ‘We can also confirm that our searches in Norfolk have now concluded.’

It is understood searches at Royal Lodge remain ongoing and will resume on Friday.

It is believed their inquiries refer to a series of emails released as part of US investigations into prolific sex offender Epstein in which Andrew appears to have forwarded sensitive documents about a range of trade issues both before and after the billionaire’s release from prison on child sex offences.

On Thursday night, US President Donald Trump said he was ‘very sad’ to see news of the arrest.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Mr Trump said: ‘I think it’s a shame. I think it’s very sad. I think it’s so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad. To me, it’s a very sad thing.’

The President praised the King as a fantastic person, who is due to visit the US this year.

Tiny Norfolk town where Andrew was grilled in custody

Aylsham is a historic market town with a population of 10,000.

It is one of three ‘Cittaslow’ towns in the UK, which aim to slow down the pace of life while also enhancing quality of living.

It was founded around 500AD and granted the right to hold a market by Henry VIII in the 16th century. 

But despite its quaint and sleepy atmosphere, Aylsham is also home to a large modern police station, where Andrew was interrogated yesterday.

The facility was built in 2011 to replace the outdated former station with a more functional, high-capacity site containing specialised interview rooms and a suite of custody cells.

Aylsham Police Station where Andrew was interrogated yesterday 

The facility was built in 2011 to replace the outdated former station. It has specialised interview rooms and a suite of custody cells