UK royal arrest sends shockwaves as Jeffrey Epstein files reference Pacific islands - reports

Britain’s former prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with the ongoing investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, police in the United Kingdom announced on Thursday (NZ time).

Andrew's detention marks an unprecedented moment in modern royal history.

British media report the 66-year-old was taken into custody at his Sandringham Estate home in Norfolk, England, and later released under police investigation while inquiries continue.

Police allege he forwarded confidential government information to Epstein during his decade-long tenure as a United Kingdom trade envoy, a serious matter that has triggered scrutiny from multiple UK police forces.

Misconduct in public office is a grave offence under UK law, involving the wilful abuse or neglect of official duties and responsibilities. If proven, it carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment.

King Charles III, Andrew’s older brother, expressed “deep concern” over the arrest and said the royal family would cooperate fully with investigators, stressing that “the law must take its course”, the ABC reported.

Who is Jeffrey Epstein?

Jeffrey Epstein was a wealthy American financier and convicted sex offender who was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.

He died in a New York jail later that year while awaiting trial.

The so-called “Epstein files” refer to court documents, emails, flight logs, and other records released through legal proceedings and US authorities that detail his network of associates, contacts and movements.

Andrew had a long-standing association with Epstein, which he has said he regrets.

He has previously denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime related to Epstein.

Pacific Islands people or places are mentioned in the Epstein files. Photo/RNZ Pacific/HO/New York State Sex Offender Registry

Pacific connections in Epstein files

Andrew's arrest comes amid global attention on the so-called Epstein Files, a collection of documents recently released by the US Justice Department that shed light on Epstein’s international network and contacts.

A Pacific angle to these files was highlighted in a recent report by Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific.

Blades’ analysis found that “Pacific Islands people or places are mentioned in the Epstein files”, often in routine summaries, immigration or visa advice, and briefings on offshore financial services in jurisdictions including some of the Pacific’s well-known tax hubs.

Among the more striking references is the mention of Tahiti in email exchanges involving Epstein and associates.

In one 2013 exchange, French model scout Jean-Luc Brunel asked Epstein: “Who is the girl that Antoine Verglas shot about a month ago? Is it the girl from Tahiti?”

Another email that year, from a prominent US sports executive, asked whether a female from Tahiti was a “working girl”.

Bottles of Fiji Water were a common sight in Epstein's dwellings, as one girl who was employed at an Epstein residence observed in a note book-type entry used as testimony for investigators and now shared on DOJ's website. Photo/Supplied

The files also suggest Epstein visited French Polynesia, including Bora Bora, multiple times between 2005 and 2017, according to Department of Justice-released bank statements.

Anecdotes in the documents reveal Epstein’s fascination with Fiji Water, sourced from Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, which was reportedly ever-present in his residences and jets.

A notebook entry from a former employee described scenes of “stacks of Fiji water bottles” and a woman in bikini bottoms, revealing the wealthy social circles in which Epstein moved.

The files also contain correspondence about travel to Papua New Guinea and Rarotonga, and include records of cultural artwork shipments linked to Epstein’s network.

One exchange concerns a yacht docked in Palau that drew attention from US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officers, demonstrating the wide geographic footprint of the documents.

There is no suggestion in the Pacific-focused reporting that individuals or locations in the region were directly involved in criminal conduct related to Epstein, but the mentions underscore the global reach of his operations.

Photo/Facebook

What’s next?

UK authorities will continue their investigation into the former prince's conduct.

Searches at multiple properties in Norfolk and Berkshire are ongoing as police work with prosecutors to determine the next steps.

While the legal process unfolds in Britain, the Pacific mentions in the Epstein files offer a reminder that the implications of Epstein’s network extend far beyond the United States and Europe, prompting questions about global travel, influence, and oversight.