On February 19, 2023, Thames Valley Police announced the arrest of a 60-year-old man from Norfolk, suspected of inappropriate conduct while serving in public office. The police have conducted searches at several addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk as part of their investigation. This incident comes as Andrew is about to celebrate his 66th birthday, adding a controversial layer to the occasion.

Earlier this month, Buckingham Palace stated that King Charles III is prepared to cooperate with law enforcement if approached regarding allegations that his brother, Andrew, may have passed potentially confidential reports to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while acting as the UK's trade envoy. The police have confirmed that they are assessing these allegations in light of the documents related to Epstein that have recently come to light.

The accusations against Prince Andrew have revived scrutiny of his previous associations with Epstein and raised questions about his past duties. In a 2010 email revealed by AFP, Andrew allegedly shared reports about Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen with Epstein following an official visit to Asia. This ongoing investigation not only has implications for Andrew personally but also poses a potential challenge for the royal family in managing its public image amidst these serious allegations.