Inside the Andrew Windsor Raid: minute by minute
Andrew Windsor’s 66th birthday started with seven dogs and ended with a 15-man police team at his door. RadarOnline.com foiled his plan to spend the day alone in exile in the countryside with his pets.
Andrew was arrested at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk at 8am on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
A friend told us about Andrew’s birthday schedule before the police intervened: “He had resigned himself to celebrating his 66th birthday in almost total solitude at Wood Farm. There were no gatherings organised, no family visiting – not Sarah, not Beatrice, not Eugenie. It was deliberately low-key, almost monastic in intent.”
“He thought the only company he would have were the dogs – the two corgis his mother owned before her death and the Norfolk terriers that roamed the house,” the source added. ‘But instead of a quiet morning with seven faithful companions, he opened the door for a full-fledged police team.
“What he imagined as a quiet birthday with seven dogs became a scene with about fifteen officers at the door.”
According to a source familiar with the police operation, the officers arrived with “stealth” force. A convoy drove along the two-mile private road leading to the five-bedroom farmhouse near Wolferton.
One vehicle approached the front entrance, while others circled to block the rear. Andrew, who had moved to Wood Farm three weeks earlier after terminating his lease at Royal Lodge, had barely woken up when officers told him he had been arrested.
At the same time, a separate team, armed with a warrant signed by the magistrate, began searching Royal Lodge, 130 miles away. Thames Valley Police said at 10am: “As part of the investigation, we have today arrested a man in his 60s from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.”
Police added: “The man remains in police custody at this time.”
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “Following a thorough investigation, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office. It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence.”
King Charles, 77, was not notified in advance of the arrest.
He later issued a statement saying the police have his “full and sincere support and cooperation” and reiterating that “the law must take its course.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William, 43, and Catherine, 44, stayed at nearby Anmer Hall and are said to support the king’s position. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the BBC Breakfast, “No one is above the law,” when questioned about Andrew’s case.
Police searches at Wood Farm continued until at least 6pm, eight hours after Andrew was taken for questioning at Aylsham police station. He was later released ‘under investigation’.
Misconduct in public office carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
