‘Andrew, the prince of darkness’: Global media mark ‘the end of privilege’ for Mountbatten-Windsor and gloat that the royal is ‘at rock bottom’

Newspapers from around the world reacted with surprise to the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was released yesterday under investigation after being detained for 11 hours on suspicion of abuse of public office.

Some declared the event heralded the ‘end of privilege’, while others marveled at Britain’s ‘former prince who has hit rock bottom’ and dubbed Andrew the ‘prince of darkness’.

The former Duke of York was later photographed looking exhausted and haunted in the back of a car as he left Aylsham police station in Norfolk before police continued their search of his former Berkshire home, Royal Lodge, this morning.

He faces allegations that he shared sensitive information with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as Britain’s trade envoy; This charge will be tried by jury and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Andrew has not been charged and has consistently and forcefully denied any wrongdoing with the disgraced financier.

The arrest sensationally took place on the King’s 66th birthday at the King’s private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, leaving global news brands shocked by the former prince’s dramatic fall from grace.

Many of the front pages featured the dazed former prince in the back of a police cruiser, fingers bent anxiously – a photograph that will no doubt be the equivalent of Andrew’s other infamous photograph, standing next to 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre in a London townhouse 25 years ago.

From the United States and Canada to Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Ireland, readers around the world watched in astonishment as arguably the greatest crisis for the monarchy in 400 years befell Britain.

Frankfurter Rundschau says former prince’s arrest heralds ‘the end of privilege’

Le Parisien branded Andrew the ‘prince of darkness’

“For a long time, it was almost unthinkable that a member of the British royal family was in prison,” writes Germany’s Frankfurter Rundschau, responding to yesterday’s news that Andrew was detained at 8am at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate, where he was staying.

‘Former Prince Andrew now held accountable for his links to convicted sex offender Epstein,’ it continues with a headline declaring that the decades-long privilege the 66-year-old once enjoyed has finally come to an end.

Another German newspaper, Die Welt, declared that the former Duke of York had ‘hit rock bottom’ following allegations of misconduct in public office.

After his brother’s arrest, King George III. In an unprecedented and historic personal statement, Charles expressed his “deep concern” at the news that police had captured Andrew in extraordinary scenes on the morning of his 66th birthday.

Charles, 77, said: “It is with deep concern that I learn of the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the suspicion of misconduct in public office.”

‘What will now come is a full, fair and appropriate process to ensure that this matter is investigated appropriately and by the relevant authorities.

‘As I said before, we have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation on this issue.

‘Let me be clear: The law must take its course.’

Italian Corriere della Sera: ‘The royal family is in crisis’

The Wall Street Journal published the now-famous photo of Andrew leaving custody

Spain’s El País weighs in on Andrew’s arrest amid Epstein scandal

When a large number of unmarked police vehicles arrived at the Royal Lodge this morning to continue the investigation into Andrew, the question on everyone’s lips was whether this royal scandal was the beginning of the end for the monarchy.

Prince William and Catherine are understood to support the King’s statement yesterday that ‘the law must take its course’ regarding the former Duke of York.

Italy’s Corriere della Sera declared the British Crown was ‘in crisis’ following the shock arrest, but only time will tell the true impact of Andrew’s actions on the institution’s image and eventual longevity.

Experts said Andrew would not receive any special treatment while in custody.

He would be kept in a small cell with only a bed and a toilet, before being summoned for an interview in which his lawyer was present.

The former prince likely had his fingerprints and mug shot taken upon arrival, and was probably offered the chance to phone a friend.

He was questioned for almost 12 hours before Thames Valley Police confirmed he had been released under investigation at 7.37pm.

Detectives are investigating Andrew’s behavior as a UK trade envoy after emails in the Epstein Files suggested he may have shared confidential information, including official visits and potential investment opportunities, with his pedophile friend.

But leading UK lawyers believe police, who searched Andrew’s homes and accessed his devices, can now expand their investigation into allegations of sexual offences.

‘Mountbatten-Windsor released after being arrested for ‘misconduct” writes the Irish Independent

Switzerland’s French-language daily Tribune de Genève writes: ‘Ex-Prince Andrew, suspect in the Epstein case, arrested’

Marcus Johnstone, a leading criminal defense lawyer specializing in sex crimes, believes Andrew’s arrest will allow detectives to seek evidence of sex crimes, including allegations that Andrew allowed victims of Epstein’s sex trafficking into Buckingham Palace.

Mr Johnstone told the Daily Mail: ‘Andrew’s arrest is not unexpected. His financial ties to Epstein are his legal Achilles’ heel.

‘Investigators will use this as the basis to delve further into his relationship with Epstein and, in doing so, build a case that Andrew was somehow involved in Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.

‘His home can now be searched and he can now be asked formal questions during the interview.’

Richard Scorer, head of exploitation law at the firm Slater and Gordon, said: ‘If prosecutors can build a case to persuade the jury that Andrew abused his position to have sex with young women, I believe Andrew can be prosecuted on that basis.’

When Andrew was arrested, it had nothing to do with Ms. Giuffre, the leading accuser of Epstein and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, who claimed the former prince had sex with her three times as a teenager.

However, following the news that Andrew had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Ms Giuffre’s siblings celebrated the development, telling CBS News: ‘Today, our broken hearts are finally relieved by the news that no one, not even the royal family, is above the law.

‘On behalf of our sister Virginia Roberts Giuffre, we express our gratitude to the UK Thames Valley Police for their investigation and the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He was never a prince. ‘Virginia did it for you, for survivors everywhere.’

Ms. Giuffre, who committed suicide last year, claimed that Epstein and Maxwell sold her to Andrew when she was 17 and first introduced him to her in London in 2001.

She claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew at Maxwell’s Belgravia home after going to a nightclub.

In the second incident, Andrew allegedly sexually assaulted Ms Giuffre at Epstein’s mansion in New York. And she claimed Andrew abused her for a third time on Little St James, Epstein’s island in the US Virgin Islands.

Andrew has always denied the allegations and reached an out-of-court settlement with Ms. Giuffre in 2022, but that settlement included no admissions of liability or apology.