Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested: Anthony Albanese reacts to ex-prince’s ‘extraordinary fall from grace’

Anthony Albanese described Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s “fall from grace” as “extraordinary” after the former prince was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

In his first remarks on Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, the Prime Minister said the former royal had suffered a “decline and fall” from a position of “absolute privilege”.

“These are very serious allegations and because they will no doubt be the subject of court action, I’m limited in what I can say but people will be following the detail here,” he told The Guardian’s Australian Politics podcast on Friday.

“But it’s quite an extraordinary fall from grace, I must say, from someone who had such an esteemed position and was in a position really of absolute privilege and to see this decline and fall is extraordinary.”

Police swooped on Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s Sandringham home on Thursday — his 66th birthday — and drove him to Aylsham police investigation centre.

Officers are understood to be investigating allegations emerging from the Jeffrey Epstein files that he shared sensitive information with the convicted paedophile during his time as a trade envoy.

After spending 11 hours being questioned, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was driven home in a Range Rover without being charged.

Mr Albanese alluded to this being the tip of the iceberg for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who has for years denied claims by Virginia Giuffre that she had sex with the then-prince aged 17, after being trafficked by Epstein.

Giuffre took her own life in Perth in 2025 and her family claim Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest is a “win” and “a very good start to opening an investigation”.

Despite this week’s dramatic events, which mark the first time a member of the British royal family has been arrested in more than 350 years, Mr Albanese stopped short of using it to push for another referendum on establishing a republic in Australia.

“I’m a republican but we had a referendum during the last term, referendums are hard to pass in Australia,” he said.

“I have had a good relationship with (King Charles), he very much loves Australia and his visit here, I must say, was a very positive one,” Mr Albanese said.

“But that doesn’t change the fact that I think there should be an Australian head of State.”

Police confirmed that they were searching two addresses in Berkshire and in Norfolk in connection with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest.

King Charles has offered his “wholehearted support and co-operation” to police investigating his brother.