Prince William signaled unusual candor at the 2026 BAFTA Awards in London, acknowledging he was "not in a calm state" days after Prince Andrew was arrested and released "under investigation" on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a development that has intensified scrutiny of the British monarchy.
The Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall as part of William's role as BAFTA president. When asked whether he had watched Chloé Zhao's historical drama Hamnet, William responded: "I need to be in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment. I will save it." He added that Kate had seen the film and ended up in "floods of tears."
The brief exchange came against the backdrop of a police investigation involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly the Duke of York. Thames Valley Police said it had arrested "a man in his sixties" from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and conducted searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
Later, the force confirmed the individual had been released "under investigation," a status in the U.K. that means no formal charges have been filed and no bail conditions imposed, while inquiries continue. The police said searches in Norfolk had concluded, with work ongoing elsewhere.
According to reporting by Al Jazeera, the investigation followed claims that Andrew shared confidential trade material with Jeffrey Epstein, amid renewed scrutiny prompted by recently released U.S. Justice Department files that reportedly included emails. Andrew has previously denied wrongdoing connected to Epstein.
Buckingham Palace has signaled it would cooperate if formally approached. Al Jazeera reported the palace said it was prepared to assist Thames Valley Police while emphasizing that responding to specific allegations was a matter for Andrew.
In the wake of the arrest, media reports citing unnamed sources described William and Kate as "itching to say something publicly" but constrained by the active investigation. The same reporting characterized William as "frustrated" that Andrew's legal troubles could remain an enduring issue for the future king.
Legal experts note that misconduct in public office is a common law offense rather than one codified in a single statute, adding complexity to potential prosecutorial steps. Public comment by senior royals during an ongoing investigation could risk prejudicing proceedings or creating further legal complications.
The timing is particularly delicate for King Charles III, whose cancer treatment is being "scaled back" into what a palace spokesperson described as a precautionary phase. The monarchy, structured to project stability, now faces renewed reputational strain as the investigation unfolds.
