<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/prince-andrew" rel="" target="_blank" title="Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor"><span>Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor</span></a><span> likely woke on February 19 expecting to celebrate his birthday in private; instead he was </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-live-updates-latest-news-headlines/9fe3f636-cf46-4094-97aa-04f98f733ac2" rel="" target="_blank" title="arrested"><span>arrested</span></a><span> on suspicion of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-police-arrive-at-home-amid-jeffrey-epstein-investigation/8b871351-30b7-4202-99e6-04169219b5d6" rel="" target="_blank" title="misconduct in public office."><span>misconduct in public office.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His arrest may have seemed sudden to the rest of the world but for the officers involved, it would have been days in the making.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-king-charles-iii-reacts/0717d837-8616-4e0d-8e8c-f185dc1c8a77" rel="" target="_blank" title="King Charles III"><span>King Charles III</span></a><span> reportedly had no idea it was coming. Here's what we know so far about the confidential police operation to arrest a former prince.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-live-updates-latest-news-headlines/9fe3f636-cf46-4094-97aa-04f98f733ac2" target="_blank" title="Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested"><strong><span>Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Inside the confidential operation</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The operation would have started with the complaint of misconduct in public office against Andrew, who is still in line to the British throne.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Senior officers at Thames Valley Police would have assessed the complaint and considered the available evidence before applying for a search warrant.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-how-secret-operation-happened/f28c1124-d4b6-49ab-95b7-2520ab3d8750" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A magistrate or district judge would have to give legal approval for police to raid Mountbatten-Windsor's Wood Farm home on the Sandringham Estate, as well as his former home, Windsor's Royal Lodge.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Once they had the all-clear, planning could begin.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-what-happens-next-explained/9ae0c863-69ce-49c6-aa94-700e060cc516" target="_blank"><strong><span>What happens next after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Details of the raid and arrest would have been kept strictly confidential.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>The London Telegraph</span></em><span> reported that neither Buckingham Palace nor the King were told what was going to happen on the morning of February 19.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A former officer told </span><em><span>The Telegraph UK</span></em><span> that even the detectives chosen to carry out the confidential operation were probably kept in the dark.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The team would have simply been told to report to the station in the early hours," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They may have even been told to hand over their mobile phones before being given the final briefing, setting out where they were going and what they were doing."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Arresting a former royal</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the early hours of the morning (UK time), officers drove about 200km from the police headquarters in Oxfordshire to the King's private Sandringham estate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The journey would have taken about three hours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It had just gone 8am when the small fleet of unmarked police cars pulled up at Mountbatten-Windsor's Wood Farm home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>TIMELINE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-timeline-of-events-between-prince-andrew-jeffrey-epstein/952378da-ce1f-43b9-a97f-d518d7e156ad" target="_blank"><strong><span>What led to the arrest of a former prince</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 20 plainclothes officers from Thames Valley Police were involved, as well as some from the local Norfolk Constabulary.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They arrested Mountbatten-Windsor at the scene and took him straight for questioning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The officer tasked with arresting the former royal would have read him the standard warning delivered to any suspect taken into custody.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You do not have to say anything," they would have said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After that, Mountbatten-Windsor would have been ushered into the back of one of the unmarked police cars and driven to a police station for a formal interview.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police also searched his Wood Farm home and his former home at Royal Lodge.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ IN FULL:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-king-charles-iii-reacts/0717d837-8616-4e0d-8e8c-f185dc1c8a77" target="_blank"><strong><span>King Charles' statement after the arrest of his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in custody</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At the police station, the former prince likely would have been processed like anyone else.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He would have been checked in at the custody suite, searched, and asked to hand over his phone, jewellery, watch, belt or tie.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A risk assessment would have been carried out to ensure he was afforded appropriate care in custody with regard to any medical issues.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Officers would have explained his rights and he likely would have been fingerprinted, then led to a cell for a formal interview.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-police-arrive-at-home-amid-jeffrey-epstein-investigation/8b871351-30b7-4202-99e6-04169219b5d6" target="_blank"><strong><span>'This is unprecedented': Police search two royal properties</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The cell wouldn't have been anything fancy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former officers told </span><em><span>The Telegraph UK</span></em><span> they usually consist of an "austere" room with a toilet, which may be screened off, and a low mattress.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mountbatten-Windsor would have been given time to speak to his lawyer and may have been offered something to eat and drink before the interview started.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The details of the police interview and what, if anything, the former prince divulged during it have not been made public.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After 11 hours in police custody, Mountbatten-Windsor was released.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's unlikely the story will end there.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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