Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The Metropolitan Police says it is contacting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's protection officers, asking them to consider whether "anything they saw or heard" while working for the former prince "may be relevant" to ongoing enquiries.

Separately, Thames Valley Police is continuing to search Andrew's former Windsor home, Royal Lodge, in connection with his arrest yesterday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The BBC understands officers are expected to continue their search of Royal Lodge over the weekend and into Monday.

There's been no sign of the former prince since his release from custody and return to Sandringham in Norfolk last night.

As UK correspondent Daniel Sandford reports, we still don't know the specifics of why Andrew was arrested, but there's an assumption that it relates to the alleged sharing of documents within the Epstein files - between Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein himself.

At this stage, Andrew has only been arrested and released under investigation. He has not been charged.

He has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein; he has not responded to the BBC's requests for comment on the specific allegations in relation to the release of millions of Epstein files in January.

Meanwhile, the BBC understands the government is considering introducing legislation to remove Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession.

We're closing our live coverage there, but for further reading:

• Met asks Andrew's protection officers what they saw or heard in Epstein inquiry
• Government considers removing Andrew from royal line of succession
• A tip-off and 'more luck than judgement': The story behind Andrew car snap
• Why misconduct in a public office is so complicated - and difficult to prosecute

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

The government is considering introducing legislation to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession, the BBC understands.

The move would come after the ongoing police investigation has concluded.

It comes after a number of MPs suggested earlier today that Mountbatten-Windsor should be removed from the line of succession.

Any changes would require agreement with other Commonwealth realms.

• Read more: Government considering legislation to remove Andrew from line of royal succession, BBC understands

Daniel Sandford
UK correspondent

Earlier we reported on a statement from the Metropolitan Police, saying it is contacting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's protection officers to ask what "they saw or heard" during their period of service, as part of their ongoing review into the Epstein files.

This week there have been suggestions in the media that royalty protection officers might have "turned a blind eye" to some of Andrew's activities, particularly on Jeffrey Epstein's island.

The Met said it was contacting former and serving officers who may have worked in a protection capacity with Andrew.

It was asking them to "consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard" was relevant to the force's ongoing reviews and to share any information that could assist them.

The Metropolitan Police has now said that "no new criminal allegations have been made to the Met regarding sexual offences said to have occurred" within its jurisdiction, and urged anyone with new or relevant information to come forward.

Richard Wheeler and Nick Eardley
Political reporter and political correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The government is facing calls to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession, preventing him from ever becoming King.

The King's brother remains eighth in line to the throne despite being stripped of his titles last October amid pressure over his ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

On Thursday, Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

The Liberal Democrats and SNP are among those to signal their support for an act of Parliament to remove the former prince from the line of succession.

But some Labour parliamentarians who have been critical of the monarchy told the BBC they were less convinced the move was required - in part because it is so unlikely the former Duke of York would ever get near to the throne.

• Read more: Calls for Andrew to be removed from royal line of succession

The Metropolitan Police says, separately it is "identifying and contacting former and serving officers who may have worked closely, in a protection capacity, with Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor".

It says: "They have been asked to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during that period of service may be relevant to our ongoing reviews and to share any information that could assist us."

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

As we've been reporting, though police have not said, the BBC understands Andrew's arrest was in relation to activity during his time as a trade envoy.

Andrew was UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, with a remit of promoting UK business interests abroad.

He worked for - but did not receive a salary from - UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), a government body which reported to the Foreign Office and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

UKTI described the role as "promoting UK business internationally, marketing the UK to potential inward investors, and building relationships in support of UK business interests".

The role took the former prince on expenses-paid trips around the world, enjoying privileged access to senior government and business contacts, before he stood down in 2011 following criticism over his links to Epstein.

Although he was widely referred to as a trade envoy at the time, his actual title was the UK special representative for international trade and investment - and the Department for Business and Trade has emphasised, in guidance to the BBC, that he was not operating under the rules that now apply to trade envoys.

Peter Gillibrand
BBC Newsbeat

Image source, Reuters

A photograph of former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving the police station on Thursday has now been seen by millions. But what goes into capturing a history-making moment like this?

Reuters photographer Phil Noble was “very skilful” to capture the photo, which shows Andrew in the back of a moving car, freelance photographer Johnathan Williams tells BBC Newsbeat.

"He's clearly waited a long time. He's got patience. He's put himself in a good spot," he says.

Williams says Noble "captured a moment in time".

As a photographer, Williams says: "You want your photo to stand out."

"You're aware you only have a few seconds to capture a very specific shot so you have to be on job, on guard, all the time,” he says.

"It's almost like being a footballer, you can never take your eye off the ball."

Image source, UK POOL

Despite Andrew's arrest yesterday, members of the Royal Family have continued taking part in their scheduled public engagements.

The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, has today visited a defence factory in Rotherham, a crisp factory in Sheffield and a nursery.

She didn't respond to a question shouted by a reporter in Sheffield, asking how she felt about her brother's arrest.

Noor Nanji
Reporting from Sandringham

Image source, TOLGA AKMEN/EPA/Shutterstock

The world's media has descended on this quiet rural estate, following a truly remarkable 24 hours.

I am outside Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's residence here at Sandringham, where he returned last night after being arrested by police yesterday morning.

So far, there have been no sightings of Andrew. In theory, there's nothing stopping him leaving his home since he's been released under investigation.

Thames Valley Police say their searches at addresses here in Norfolk have concluded. But, there is still a sizeable police presence here today.

We've seen a number of police officers and police cars, and other vehicles coming in and out of the driveway to Andrew's residence.

Jacob Phillips
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

It has been over 19 hours since Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was snapped reclining in the backseat of a Range Rover, having been released under police investigation.

The King’s younger brother spent 11 hours in custody yesterday - his 66th birthday - after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Thursday morning.

It was the first arrest of a senior royal in modern history.

After six hours of driving and six hours of waiting, six photos of Andrew were snapped by Reuters photographer Phil Noble at Aylsham Police Station.

Having been released, Andrew is now free to go about his daily life. But the former prince is still under investigation, and could still be called in for more questioning, our correspondent Helena Wilkinson writes.

And police activity continues at his former home - Royal Lodge in Windsor. As we've just been reporting, the BBC understands that searches there are likely to continue over the weekend, and into Monday.

Daniel Wittenberg
Reporting from Royal Lodge

Searches in Berkshire are ongoing and are likely to continue over the weekend until Monday, BBC News has learned.

Thames Valley Police officers continue to search Royal Lodge, the former residence of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following his arrest yesterday.

Sean Dilley
Reporting from Royal Lodge

Image source, Reuters

Activity around Royal Lodge continues, but we haven’t seen any vehicles carrying uniformed police officers since this morning.

We've spoken to one local business owner who told us they were tired of hearing about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

As a reminder, this investigation is related to allegations of misconduct in public office. His arrest came after Thames Valley Police said they were assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Wherever this investigation goes, questions about the former prince’s relationship with Epstein will continue.

• As a reminder, Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein; he has not responded to the BBC's requests for comment on the specific allegations in relation to the release of millions of Epstein files in January

Daniel Sandford
UK correspondent

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has not been arrested for anything surrounding Virginia Giuffre.

What's led to him being arrested is information in the Epstein files around activities while he was a trade envoy.

Although we don't know specifics, there has to be an assumption that part of this is going to be the sharing of documents within the Epstein files - between Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein himself, and allegations that he shared confidential material. That's when Thames Valley Police got involved.

But once you're investigating somebody for alleged misconduct in public office, it doesn't have to focus only on those emails which we've seen publicly in the Epstein files.

Firstly, there's three million documents in the files, so there may be some the media have missed. But secondly, Buckingham Palace said they would support Thames Valley Police in their inquiries.

And that potentially means the police have gone to the Palace, or could go to the Palace, asking to see evidence of communications between Andrew and others.

There is nothing to say that it has to focus on the couple of emails that people have seen within the Epstein files.

At this stage, Andrew has only been arrested and released under investigation. He has not been charged. He has always denied any wrongdoing arising from his relationship with Epstein and has not responded to specific BBC questions about the files released in January.

What is misconduct in a public office? Read our post.

Image source, PA Media

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey says Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's place in the line of royal succession is an "issue that Parliament is going to have to consider".

He says: "The most important thing right now is that the police be allowed to get on with their job, acting without fear or favour.

"But clearly this is an issue that Parliament is going to have to consider when the time is right, naturally the monarchy will want to make sure he can never become king."

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, meanwhile, calls for a "full statutory inquiry" following Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest.

"I think it's pretty awful. I think there are lots of questions to be asked," he says.

"We obviously need to wait for the legal process to make its way, but I would say we really need a full statutory inquiry into public figures from institutions, where crimes have been committed - if they've been committed - what we knew, what other people in those institutions knew and, where necessary, to make sure that the appropriate people are removed."

Speaking before Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest on Thursday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the BBC that "nobody is above the law".

"It's a very important principle of our country... and it has to apply in this case in the same way it would in any other case," he said.

Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent

Following his arrest on Thursday morning, Andrew was taken to Norfolk’s Aylsham Police Station.

While police would never be expected to release details about the 11 hours he was held at the station, there are plenty of details we can glean from standard procedure after an arrest.

At the station, the custody sergeant would have been responsible for verifying he was indeed the suspect. They would have also checked if he was in a fit state, physically and mentally, to be booked in.

Andrew would have had his rights read to him - this includes regular breaks for food and to go to the toilet, and the right to tell someone where he is.

It’s likely he would then have had this mugshot, fingerprints and DNA taken.

Andrew would then have had to decide whether to seek advice from the 24/7 local duty solicitor while he waited for his preferred criminal lawyer, assuming he has one, to arrive.

While it’s of course highly unusual for a local lawyer to deal with a royal like this, these people are experts in helping suspects in the first hours of arrest.

His cell would have come with a toilet, and he would have been given the offer of bedding.

Given how long he was held, he would likely have received two meals.

Aylsham Police Station was noted in a recent inspection for having more reading material for suspects than others, for them to while away the hours in their cell.

Though Andrew was stripped of many of his royal titles last October - including his title as prince - he has kept his place as eighth in line of succession to the throne.

He could be removed from the line of succession, but the process relies on a couple of things.

Firstly, an act of Parliament would need to be passed.

Such legislation would also require the support of all the Commonwealth countries that have King Charles as their head of state, as it would also affect their lines of succession too.

Andrew also technically remains a counsellor of state, who could stand in for a monarch who is ill or overseas.

In practice, only working royals are called upon to carry out those jobs. Andrew stepped back from public duties in 2019 following backlash after an interview with BBC Newsnight about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Daniel Sandford
UK correspondent

I understand that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has not yet been formally involved in Thames Valley Police's Andrew investigation, in terms of giving what is called "early investigative advice".

This means that while there may have been some discussions, CPS lawyers have not given detectives any formal advice about how to proceed with the investigation.

A CPS spokesperson says: "We are in close contact with police regarding high-profile individuals.

"We remain ready to support any police investigations if needed."

Image source, Phil Noble/Reuters

Six hours of driving, six hours of waiting and six photos snapped.

That's what it took for Phil Noble, a photographer with the Reuters news agency, to get the picture of former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving the police station after he was released under investigation yesterday.

Speaking to Reuters, the Manchester-based photographer has detailed the planning that led to the photo. He says he drove for six hours to Norfolk when news of the arrest broke.

After receiving a tip, Noble headed to Aylsham police station, where a few members of the media were already stationed.

Over six hours later, darkness fell and nothing seemed to be happening, Noble tells Reuters. He started to pack up and head towards a hotel where his team were staying overnight.

A matter of minutes later, he got the call that Andrew's car was leaving the station.

Noble raced back to Aylsham in time to catch two cars departing. He then snapped six photos: two showed the police, two were blank and one was out of focus.

But the remaining photo captured the former prince reclining in the back of the car, hands loosely clasped.

"You can plan and use your experience and know roughly what you need to do, but still everything needs to align," says Noble, who adds that shots of a moving car require "more luck than judgement".