Virginia Giuffre’s family claim Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is 'sweating now’ after release from police custody

Virginia Giuffre’s family have claimed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor must be “sweating now”, after his release from police custody.

On Thursday morning, the former prince was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.

Andrew – who also marked his 66th birthday on the same day – was arrested by officers at his residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

The decision came amid growing unrest surrounding Andrew’s friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and the allegations of sexual abuse made against him by the late Virginia Giuffre.

However, the arrest was not in reference to any sexual abuse allegations, but was in connection with claims that Andrew had shared confidential information during his time as a trade envoy.

Around nine hours after the news of his arrest first broke, Thames Valley Police confirmed on Thursday evening that they had “released under investigation” “a man in his sixties from Norfolk”.

Shortly after his release, photographs emerged showing Andrew in the back of a car, looking alarmed as he was driven away.

Following Andrew’s arrest and release, the brother and sister-in-law of his accuser, the late Virginia Guiffre, have now shared their thoughts on the matter.

Appearing on CNN hours after Andrew was arrested, Sky and Amanda Roberts were asked about seeing such a “shocked” Andrew.

“I imagine he would be shocked,” Amanda responded, in reference to the photo.

“I think one of the things Virginia had stated so clearly is he thought it was his entitlement and he had been protected and shielded by his royalty and his position for so long. I don’t believe that he even knew this day would come, that he would actually be arrested,” she continued.

“When I see him in that position of him sweating, which we know apparently at one period in time he couldn’t do, he’s sweating now … I think he’s sweating now,” she added.

The comment was in reference to Andrew’s infamous Newsnight interview in 2019, in which he alleged that he couldn’t sweat, disagreeing with Virginia’s claims that he “sweated all over me” while they were in a nightclub in the early 2000s.

Andrew said at the time: “I had suffered what I would describe as an overdose of adrenalin in the Falkland’s War when I was shot at and I simply … it was almost impossible for me to sweat. It’s only because I have done a number of things in the recent past that I am starting to be able to do that again.”

Virginia later died by suicide in April of last year, at the age of 41.

Speaking to BBC’s Newsnight on Thursday evening, Sky and Amanda described the news of Andrew’s arrest as a “shock”.

Amanda said: “We celebrated in that moment and we were just awestruck, then the wave of emotions hits you because usually we can call [Virginia] and scream with her on the phone and jump up and down with…”

Getting emotional, she continued: “And just tell her how proud of her we are of her tenacity and courage … if it wasn’t for Virginia none of this would have happened and none of this would have been uncovered.”

Describing it as “vindication” for his sister, Sky agreed: “Against all odds she kept pushing forwards.”

Sky also praised King Charles for releasing a statement on the matter, in which the monarch noted that the police had his “full and wholehearted support” in their investigation.

Sky shared: “I will continue to commend the King for the actions that he’s taken. We have yet to see that from our own government here … To hear the King come out and acknowledge the fact … that the law should be followed …

“And if it is found that he did indeed share secret information from his own government, then that’s a crime that is punishable by life … we would ask that he holds him to the highest extent of the law, even though it is his brother,” he added.

Andrew continues to “vigorously deny” all allegations of sexual abuse made against him by the late Virginia Guiffre.

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