Prison staff issued strict warning before Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's dramatic arrest

Police meticulously organised the operation to arrest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor days before officers arrived to detain him on his 66th birthday, it has been reported.

According to The Sun, preparations were under way well in advance, with senior officers fully aware that they would be taking the former Duke of York into custody on the day he turned 66. After his arrest, he was reportedly offered a single cup of Yorkshire Tea while in custody.

In the run-up to the operation, many staff at Aylsham Police Investigation Centre in Norfolk — roughly a 50-minute drive from Sandringham — were warned not to report for duty on the Thursday of the arrest. It is understood that Andrew was the only detainee processed at the site that morning.

The decision to limit attendance at the custody suite was communicated “days before the arrest”, according to reports. Those officers and staff who were required on site were informed only on the morning itself that a “notable person” would be arriving.

Residents in the area later described an unusually subdued atmosphere around the centre while Andrew was inside. Normally regarded as North Norfolk’s principal custody facility, it is typically a “hive of activity”. Instead, locals said it appeared “eerily quiet” during the high-profile detention.

A source told The Sun: “This raid was planned days in advance and the fact they knew it was his birthday and went ahead shows they were doing their jobs properly - policing without fear or favour. It shows nobody is above the law.”

Officers were said to be acutely conscious of the sensitivity and prominence of the arrest, which has been described as the most significant of its kind in recent memory. As a result, every aspect of the operation was carefully managed to avoid disruption or security concerns.

Andrew was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations that surfaced after the release of files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The claims relate to assertions that Andrew shared sensitive information with Epstein during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy.

He spent approximately 11 hours in custody before being released under investigation. The arrest came despite Andrew having previously denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. While he has strongly refuted past allegations concerning his links to the disgraced financier, he has not directly addressed the most recent claims.

Search activity continued on Friday at Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire — Andrew’s former residence — as detectives pursued further lines of inquiry.

The political ramifications of the arrest could extend beyond the criminal investigation. Although Andrew was stripped of his royal title last year, he remains eighth in line to the throne. Removing him from the line of succession would require primary legislation passed by Parliament.

The Government, led by Keir Starmer, is understood to be considering its options once the police investigation concludes. Any alteration to the succession would also need the consent of other Commonwealth realms that recognise the British monarch as head of state, including Australia, Canada and Jamaica.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray indicated that ministers were keeping all possibilities under review. He told Sky News: “The Government is considering any further steps that might be required, and we’re not ruling anything out. But at this stage, it would be inappropriate for us to go any further because there is a live police investigation under way.”