The family of Virginia Giuffre has expressed relief following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, saying the development reinforced their belief that legal accountability applies equally to everyone regardless of rank or social standing. In a statement issued on Thursday, Giuffre’s siblings thanked British law-enforcement authorities and described the arrest as a moment that brought emotional closure after years of legal and personal struggle.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III, was taken into custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest has renewed public attention on his long-standing association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and has prompted strong reactions from Giuffre’s family, who have been closely linked to efforts seeking accountability in the wider Epstein scandal.
In their statement, Giuffre’s siblings said they felt a profound sense of relief upon learning of the arrest, describing it as evidence that privilege or royal status does not place anyone beyond the reach of the law. They expressed gratitude to Thames Valley Police for conducting the investigation and pursuing legal action. The family added that, for them, the moment symbolised recognition of their sister’s efforts and the broader fight for justice on behalf of abuse survivors worldwide.
Virginia Giuffre, an American survivor whose allegations became central to the Epstein case, died by suicide in April 2025 at the age of 41. She had accused Epstein of trafficking her to Andrew when she was a teenager, claims that Andrew consistently denied. Her accusations formed the foundation of a civil lawsuit filed in New York in 2021, alleging she had been forced into sexual encounters with him on multiple occasions when she was 17 years old. Although Andrew denied wrongdoing, the case was settled in 2022 through a multimillion-dollar agreement without any admission of liability.
The controversy surrounding these allegations had already resulted in Andrew stepping back from official royal duties and losing his formal royal status. However, the current arrest relates to a separate matter. Investigators are examining claims that, during his tenure as a UK trade envoy, he may have shared confidential or sensitive information with Epstein. Authorities stated that the arrest followed a review of materials contained in recently released Epstein-related files provided by the United States Department of Justice.
Giuffre’s former attorney, Sigrid McCawley, said the arrest reflected years of advocacy carried out by her client, who had worked persistently to expose wrongdoing connected to Epstein and his associates. According to McCawley, the development represents a significant step toward accountability and reinforces the principle that no individual should be exempt from legal scrutiny.
Giuffre had spoken publicly about her experiences for more than a decade and detailed them in her memoir Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, published after her death. Her allegations played a major role in bringing global attention to Epstein’s network, contributing to criminal proceedings against associates such as Ghislaine Maxwell and prompting multiple civil cases across several jurisdictions.
The arrest has intensified scrutiny of Andrew’s past conduct and its broader implications for the British royal family. In response, King Charles III stated that the legal process should proceed independently and without interference, emphasising that the matter must be handled through established judicial procedures. In a statement released on Thursday, the monarch said he had received news of the arrest with deep concern and stressed that a full, fair, and proper investigation must now be carried out by the appropriate authorities.
