Britain’s King Charles III on Thursday said “the law must take its course” following the arrest of his younger brother, former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid the mounting heat over his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The monarch expressed his “deepest concern” but stressed that the investigation would follow “the full, fair and proper process” by the appropriate authorities. “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities,” Charles said in a statement, according to BBC, adding, “In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.” He also noted that it would not be right to comment further as the process continues.Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday, was arrested by Thames Valley police at his residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England.According to The Guardian neither King Charles or Buckingham Palace was informed in advance of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest.The former prince, stripped of his royal titles in 2022 over his links to Epstein, remains in police custody. The force confirmed it had opened an investigation into the alleged offence but did not name the suspect in line with standard UK procedures.Thames Valley police previously said they were “assessing” reports that Mountbatten-Windsor, during his tenure as Britain’s special envoy for international trade, sent confidential trade documents to Epstein in 2010. These reports were among millions of pages of documents released last month by the US justice department as part of its investigation into Epstein, according to AP.Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein have long shadowed the royal family. He was forced by the late Queen Elizabeth II to give up royal duties and charitable work in 2019 after a controversial BBC interview attempted to address the relationship. Last year, further revelations in a book and the release of court documents prompted King Charles to strip him of the title “prince” and ask him to leave his Windsor home.Assistant chief constable Oliver Wright of Thames Valley police said, “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office. We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”Unmarked police vehicles and plainclothes officers were reportedly seen outside Andrew’s Norfolk residence earlier this week. Buckingham Palace confirmed its readiness to cooperate fully with authorities investigating Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein.