Did Prince William Hint At Prince Andrew’s Arrest At BAFTA Awards 2026? Told Media, ‘I Need To Be..’

Prince William made his first major public appearance since his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards 2026. He attended the event with his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, drawing widespread media attention. But this year, the intense media attention was not just about the evening but also about a shadow of the Epstein scandal hanging over the Royal family. While the evening was meant to celebrate British cinema, the underlying tension over the scandal was impossible to ignore. 

What did Prince William say at BAFTA 2026? 

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, made a brief red carpet interaction with the reporters when they stepped out to attend the BAFTA awards 2026. According to The Daily Mail, during the conversation, one reporter asked Prince William if he had watched Hamnet, one of the best picture nominees for the evening. But rather than dodging the question, the Prince of Wales made a rare personal remark, acknowledging that he has not been in a “calm state” to watch and enjoy the movie. In his words:

“I need to be in quite a calm state, and I am not at the moment. I will save it.”

Prince William did not clarify the exact reason for his mood shift. But his statement quickly sparked speculations whether it was an indirect reference to the ongoing controversy surrounding Prince Andrew. On the other hand, Princess Kate kept the tone light and revealed she had seen the movie, leaving the screening with “very puffy eyes”. Despite the serious scandal looming over the Royal family, Prince William and Catherine maintained a composed and professional presence throughout the event.

For the evening, the Princess of Wales wore a floor-length, off-the-shoulder Gucci gown with flowing panels of sheer pink and white fabric. Catherine styled it with a burgundy velvet belt at the waist, a matching burgundy clutch, and historic Greville diamond chandelier earrings. On the other hand, Prince William wore a matching bold burgundy velvet tuxedo jacket. He paired it with a white button-down shirt, a black bowtie, trousers, and dress shoes. 

Why was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested and released in a few hours? 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was taken into custody on February 19, 2026. He was arrested based on the suspicion of misconduct in public office. But it was a part of the ongoing investigation. The arrest took place due to new material that emerged from the “Epstein Files” linking Prince Andrew to it. Moreover, some reports suggested that some emails by Andrew allegedly hint that official briefings and trade-related information were forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein. Yet, he was released after 11 hours since he could not be detained for 24 hours without formal charges.

How has the Royal Family reacted to Prince Andrew’s alleged links to Epstein Files? 

The Royal Family has largely avoided making public comments on Prince Andrew’s links to Epstein, issuing only brief official statements. According to the same outlet, King Charles III stated, “The law must take its course”.” He confirmed that the Royal family would cooperate fully with authorities. Meanwhile, earlier in February 2026, Prince William and Princess Kate addressed the new buzz around the Epstein-related documents through a spokesperson, stating that they were “deeply concerned by the continuing revelations” and that their thoughts remain with victims. At the same time, Prince Andrew was stripped of his HRH title and stepped back from public duties in recent years owing to the intense scrutiny around his role in the Epstein scandal.

What do you think about Prince William’s comment at BAFTA awards 2026? 

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