Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, was released on Thursday evening after being arrested by Thames Valley Police on allegations of public office abuse connected to the Epstein scandal. Despite his release, authorities clarified that he has not been cleared of the charges, and the investigation is still ongoing. His arrest coincidentally occurred on his 66th birthday, adding to the controversy surrounding his involvement with the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, from whom he is alleged to have sent confidential government documents.

Local reports indicate that the police held Prince Andrew for approximately 11 hours for questioning before his release, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations against him. The Thames Valley Police confirmed that an individual over the age of 60 was arrested in connection with the suspicion of misconduct in public office, and he has since been released pending further investigation. Notably, the police have withheld the name of the suspect in accordance with UK law, although it has been confirmed that searches in Norfolk related to the case have been completed.

This situation has reignited discussions surrounding Prince Andrew's previous connections to Epstein and the implications of his alleged actions on the royal family's reputation. As investigations continue, there is heightened scrutiny regarding the handling of such serious accusations against a member of the royal family and the potential legal repercussions he may face if formally charged in the future.