1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:04,760 Speaker 1: Today's biggest News from The Australian. I'm Claire Harvey with 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: a special edition of the Front on the arrest of 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The man formerly known as the Duke 4 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: of York and Prince Andrew, is free from custody after 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: being arrested early in the morning of his sixty sixth birthday. 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: No charges have been laid, but police say they are 7 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: investigating allegations of misconduct in public office, an offense that 8 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: carries a potential maximum penalty of twenty years imprisonment. Thames 9 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: Valley Police seized computers and other items from Andrew's present home, 10 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate and his former house, 11 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: Royal Lodge, on the Windsor estate. The investigation relates to 12 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: alleged communications between Andrew and the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, 13 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 1: and documents released by the US Department of Justice that 14 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: appear to show Mountbatton Windsor sending Epstein trade information obtained 15 00:00:55,880 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: in Andrew's capacity as Britain's Special Envoy for international trade. 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: Mount Batton Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing, including in 17 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: relation to the allegations he had sex with young women 18 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: trafficked to him by Epstein and his girlfriend Gilain Maxwell, 19 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: who's serving two decades in prison for child sex trafficking. Today, 20 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: Europe correspondent Jacqueline Magne joins us to explore this wild 21 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 1: new world for the Royal family. 22 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 2: Police have arrested Andrew mount Batton Windsor. 23 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: This astonishing development is actually taking place on his sixty 24 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: sixth birthday. Injustices have been conducting searchers and multiple properties 25 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 1: previously lived in by the ex Prince. As a statement 26 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: from King Charles, he says he supports and will cooperate 27 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:45,639 Speaker 1: with the police investigation into his brother. 28 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: Andrew Mountbatton Windsor has just been released without charge after 29 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: spending almost twelve hours in police custody. 30 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: Jacqueline Magnee is The Australian's Europe correspondent Jack. Australians woke 31 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: up to a incredibly stark picture of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor 32 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: in the backseat of a car, head resting on the headrest, 33 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: looking absolutely startled. It's an extremely unflattering picture, but it 34 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: shows a man in crisis, doesn't it. 35 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 2: Well, it's been an extraordinary day and for Andrew Batten Windsor, 36 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 2: this was his sixty sixth birthday, and it started with 37 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 2: the police arriving at his new residence, wood Farm, which 38 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: is on the Sandringham estate, which is owned by the King. 39 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 2: It's a private royal residence and the King had moved 40 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 2: him there after the scandals of the Epstein drama and 41 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 2: Virginia Goofrey associations, and he woke up to eight police 42 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 2: officers arriving in six vehicles very early in the morning 43 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 2: and putting him under arrest and executing some search warrants, 44 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,839 Speaker 2: not only at wood Farm where he's staying, but he's 45 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 2: former residence at the Royal Lodge outside of Windsor. So 46 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 2: he was taken to a local police station and questioned 47 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,399 Speaker 2: for about twelve hours. And the photo that you're referring 48 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 2: to is him trying to slink down in the backseat 49 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 2: of the car to avoid just being photographed by a 50 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 2: horde of waiting photographers who were just waiting for the 51 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 2: car to emerge with him inside it. And he was 52 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 2: captured in a very unflattering pose on what has been 53 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 2: a very historic day and a very uncomfortable day for 54 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 2: Andrew Mount button Windsor. 55 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,119 Speaker 1: It would have been better for him to just sit 56 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: up straight, look stoic, adopt a bit of a stiff 57 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: upper lip and pretend that everything was okay. But judgment 58 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: is not Andrew's forte, is it. 59 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 2: No, And you can understand that this is an highly 60 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 2: embarrassing moment for him. It's an extraordinary moment, a seismic 61 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 2: moment for the royal family. And maybe he's become aware 62 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:07,119 Speaker 2: of how significant his alleged actions may be and how 63 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 2: this is being perceived around the world. Because he has 64 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 2: denied any wrongdoing at all times in association with Jeffrey Epstein, 65 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 2: but also in regards to the time that he was 66 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 2: the Trade Envoy for the UK government and his association 67 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 2: and dealings and sharing of alleged information that he received 68 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: in that privileged government position. That is now why he's 69 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 2: been put under arrest and why officials are now investigating 70 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 2: him for alleged misconduct in public office. 71 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: He was released without charge. That's pretty normal. Police tend 72 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: to arrest someone while they need to do something else, 73 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 1: either to search their properties, which seem to be what 74 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: happened with him, or to question other people, or to 75 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: question the person they're looking at. He may be charged 76 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: with misconduct in public office, and if he does, that 77 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: will be listed in the courts as Rex versus Andrew 78 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 1: mount Batten Winsor. That's pretty startling, isn't it. 79 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 2: Well, it means brother versus brother, because Rex refers to 80 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 2: the Monarch his Majesty, King Charles. And it is an 81 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 2: extraordinary situation where the King now has to really distance 82 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: himself from a legal quandary of being perceived to either 83 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 2: talk to Andrew or of either being involved with him 84 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 2: financially in providing a place of residence for him and 85 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: even providing any funds for him to live on that 86 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 2: could compromise any future legal actions. So it's an unprecedented 87 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 2: situation that the King finds himself in, but also Andrew 88 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 2: mount Batten Windsor. And it's an extraordinary I keep using 89 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 2: that word, but I can't explain how unprecedented this is 90 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 2: for a royal residence to be searched by police, to 91 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: have teams of officers come in and take away documents 92 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 2: and laptops and any other electronic equipment that they can find. 93 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: And as you mentioned, it is very normal in the 94 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: UK for someone to be arrested. They will be questioned 95 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 2: and given an opportunity where allegations are put to them, 96 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 2: and it's very normal for them to be released without 97 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 2: any charge. But it's also very common for the police 98 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: to then take a week or two, maybe three weeks 99 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: to go through the evidence that they've found, sift through 100 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 2: those electronic documents, and work out their strategy, and call 101 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 2: him back in for further questioning. And this could happen 102 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 2: two or three times before they decide whether to lay 103 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 2: charges or not. 104 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 1: The whole story really makes me think jack about what 105 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: it actually means to be Royal Andrew. I suppose you 106 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: could argue has been protected for a lot of his 107 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: life from the consequences of allegations against him. The Queen 108 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: helped him come up with millions of pounds to pay 109 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: Virginia Guphrey in an out of court settlement. Of course, 110 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: he's always denied the allegations she made against him, that 111 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: they had sex when she was only seventeen, and that 112 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: she was trafficked to him by Jeffrey Epstein. But a 113 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: bit like Prince Harry, it feels with Prince Andrew as 114 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: though royalty and that status and that protection can just 115 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: be snatched away from you at any moment. Is that 116 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: a new reality for the Royals, and what's your take 117 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 1: on that. 118 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: Well, Andrew has had a very privileged upbringing, and he 119 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 2: has for a very long time been very arrogant, very aloof, 120 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 2: very boorish, and he demanded that people around him treat 121 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 2: him in a style that he thought he should be 122 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 2: addressed and treated. And so he had this very lofty 123 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 2: life where people would defer to him, people would never 124 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 2: challenge him, people would always agree with him, and no 125 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:17,679 Speaker 2: one said no, even the Queen. He was the favorite son. 126 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 2: He could do whatever he liked, and so for decades 127 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 2: he's been able to get away with behavior that perhaps 128 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: normal people we would have been kind of given a 129 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 2: little tap on the shoulder and told to behave well, 130 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 2: that never happened with Andrew, and so he's had this 131 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 2: life of pampered luxury and obsequiousness from people around him. 132 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: And so I think it's all coming home to roosts 133 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 2: now that he is accountable. And this would have come 134 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 2: as a huge and rude shock to him. He would 135 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 2: not have thought that the police would come knocking on 136 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 2: his door, that he would then be taken to a 137 00:08:55,559 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: police custody sell and questioned by police in a you know, 138 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 2: a concrete dungeon. Really, I mean, it's incredible, and he 139 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 2: would never have thought that this would have ever happened. 140 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 2: And I don't think many Britons would have thought this 141 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 2: would have happened either, because they had always held the 142 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 2: Royal family in a certain status and reverence. And Andrew always 143 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 2: seem to have that kind of protection from any scrutiny 144 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 2: that other people might have had. 145 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: Just finally, Jack, one of my guilty pleasures is reading 146 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: your delicious analysis pieces about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 147 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: There's so much fun because you've got a great spicy 148 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: take and then I get you on the front and 149 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 1: we have a delicious laugh about them and the pursuit 150 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: of joy lovers and the details. 151 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 2: I think it took thirty seconds of watching it and 152 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 2: I just thought, oh, no. 153 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:57,839 Speaker 1: I have How does this recast our opinion of Meghan 154 00:09:57,880 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: and Harry. I mean, they're not as bad as Andrew, 155 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: are they? 156 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 2: No? I don't think that they are. They haven't broken 157 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 2: any laws, have they. They've been very uncomfortable for members 158 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 2: of the royal family in their revelations, and they've broken 159 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 2: certain levels of trust amongst the family. And I don't 160 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 2: think that they would be welcomed back at all. But 161 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: the problem with Andrew is he didn't leave the Royal family. 162 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 2: He's been forced out, you know, kicking and screaming, and 163 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 2: it hasn't really made these allegations go away. Several years 164 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: now we've been looking at Andrew and it's just chip 165 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: chip chip, chipping away at the reputation of the Royal family. 166 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 2: And as much as King Charles wants to try and 167 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 2: cauterize that noise and get rid of his brother and 168 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 2: banish him from public life, it hasn't been enough. And 169 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 2: you just have to wonder, now what would be enough. 170 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 2: What can King Charles do now? He doesn't have many 171 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 2: options open to him, does he He can just move 172 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 2: him from the line of succession, which would require the 173 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 2: UK government to approve. But he never was really going 174 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 2: to be monarch anyway. He's eighth in line to the throne. 175 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 2: He's already lost all his titles. So it's a real 176 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 2: problem now for the Royal family. Even just being arrested, 177 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 2: the reputational damage is massive and if he is charged. 178 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 2: He's not charged yet, but if he is charged with 179 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 2: misconduct in public office, that's enormous and you just wonder 180 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 2: how much impact this will have on the royal family 181 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 2: going forward. 182 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: Jacqueline Magne is The Australian's europe correspondent. 183 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 2: Jack, thanks so much, Thanks Claire. 184 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:46,719 Speaker 1: You can check out this story live right now at 185 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 1: the Australian dot com dot u and come back to 186 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: the front first thing in the morning for our close 187 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: look at a story close to our hearts. 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