While Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was being arrested on the morning of his 66th birthday, many wondered where his daughters were
Princess Eugenie was reportedly spotted on a skiing holiday, just hours before the arrest of her father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. On the morning of his 66th birthday, the ex Duke of York was arrested as numerous police descended on the Sandringham estate.
The former prince was taken into police custody at Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk, where he was held for 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in public office, before he was released at around 7:30pm on Thursday night. Now it has emerged that his youngest daughter Princess Eugenie, with whom Andrew reportedly has a strained relationship in the face of the Epstein scandal, was spotted on a skiing holiday in Switzerland with her family.
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In the hours before Andrew’s arrest, Eugenie claimed to have been seen enjoying a half-term trip in the Swiss resort of Gstaad, alongside her husband Jack Brooksbank, their children August, five, and Ernest, who turns three in May, and a group of friends. The children’s nanny also joined the family for their snowy getaway.
As well as enjoying time on the ski runs, the group stopped for a low-key lunch at Restaurant Waldmatte. A fellow diner at the restaurant told Hello! Magazine: “Eugenie and Jack were with the children, the nanny and a group of friends. They were tucked away in a corner and casually dressed in ski gear and jackets, and Jack was wearing a beanie hat as they both browsed the menu.”
They added: “I was surprised to see her because I thought she would be keeping a low-profile in light of everything that has been going on.”
The area in Switzerland is a favourite with royalty, A-listers and billionaires, with King Charles previously visiting the region. Switzerland is also a special destination for Eugenie and Jack, who first met during a ski holiday to Verbier, where Andrew and Fergie used to own a chalet.
A royal source has claimed that both Eugenie and her older sister Princess Beatrice are “in a state” over their father’s arrest. The princesses have not commented publicly on his arrest and the ongoing allegations from the Epstein files – but privately are said to be trying their hardest “to put a brave face on it”.
One royal insider is said to have told The Telegraph : “This is catastrophic for [Fergie] and the girls. She seems to be doing her best to put a brave face on it. Her desperation for money was clear stupidity but does that equate to what she’s going through now?”
Eugenie was last seen over a week ago in Qatar, as she stepped out for a high-end contemporary art fair in Doha, where she posed with a friend.
Andrew was released from custody at around 7:30pm on Thursday, with Thames Valley Police saying he was released under investigation and searches on the Sandringham Estate had concluded. Its statement said: “Thames Valley Police is able to provide an update in relation to an investigation into the offence of misconduct in public office. On Thursday we arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrested man has now been released under investigation. We can also confirm that our searches in Norfolk have now concluded.”
Andrew was detained following allegations that he shared reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, during his time as trade envoy to the UK.
In response to the arrest, King Charles said in a statement that “the law must take its course” after expressing his “deepest concern” over the arrest, which came after millions of files released by the US Department of Justice in relation to the Epstein scandal allege Andrew forwarded information to the convicted sex offender.
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