KATHMANDU: Prince Andrew, the brother of King Charles III, was detained and questioned by Thames Valley Police on Thursday over suspected misconduct linked to his time in public office, before being released later the same day.

According to Reuters, the 66-year-old former royal appeared visibly exhausted and emotional as he left the police station following hours of questioning.

The investigation is reportedly connected to long-standing controversies surrounding Prince Andrew’s association with the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Sources familiar with the matter say the inquiry was triggered by a complaint alleging that sensitive commercial and diplomatic information may have been improperly shared.

The claims have placed Prince Andrew under renewed legal and public scrutiny.

Due to British legal privacy rules, police have not officially named the individual questioned.

However, authorities confirmed that a man over the age of 60 was detained in connection with allegations of serious misconduct committed while holding a public role.

The age and circumstances have led to widespread confirmation that the individual was Prince Andrew.

In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: “A detailed investigation has been launched into serious allegations of misconduct allegedly committed while in public office. We are committed to ensuring the fairness and integrity of this process.”

The police added that they are working in coordination with partner agencies to assess the evidence and will release further information at an appropriate time.

Prince Andrew has remained a controversial figure since his ties to Epstein became public. Epstein was convicted in 2010 for trafficking and sexually exploiting underage girls.

The controversy surrounding Andrew resurfaced recently after millions of pages of previously sealed documents related to the Epstein case were made public in the United States.

British authorities acknowledged the high level of public interest in the case and said the investigation is being treated as a priority.

Analysts warn that if the allegations of abuse of office are substantiated, the case could deal a further blow to the public image of the British royal family.