LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – SEPTEMBER 16: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Pr
The instant Andrew was booked at Aylsham police station, every honor he had previously possessed became irrelevant. To the custody sergeant recording his information, he was Detainee A – nothing else.
The Express disclosed last week how officers conducting Operation Ironville employed the anonymous label intentionally, resolute in providing no basis for claims that the former royal had received preferential treatment or been singled out. Staff members in other areas of the facility were entirely uninformed, advised only that an individual of importance was being held.
The disparity with his previous existence could scarcely be more pronounced. The individual formerly designated as His Royal Highness, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh – a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter until his brother the King stripped every distinction – had been diminished to a solitary letter.
Detectives swooped on Wood Farm at Sandringham on February 19 (Image: Getty)
A source told the Sun: “It brings it home doesn’t it? To go from Prince and Duke and Earl, Baron, Knight – all those fancy titles then suddenly you’re Detainee A. He must have thought just being plain ‘Andy’ was awful at one point.
“I don’t suppose he thought it could get much worse.
“Police in Norfolk are fed up that he’s effectively been dumped on them and made their problem.
Andrew has repeatedly denied any involvement with Jeffrey Epstein (Image: Getty)
“The only way left for them to deal with the frustration is through humour – so they all keep joking they have ‘a notable person’ to arrest.
“They wish he had never left Windsor.”
Arrested on his birthday On February 19, which coincided with Andrew’s 66th birthday, detectives descended on Wood Farm at Sandringham and arrested him on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The allegations are based on claims, backed by emails from the Epstein files, that the former trade envoy funneled sensitive information to his associate, including details about investment opportunities in Afghanistan.
Andrew has persistently refuted any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
Neither Norfolk nor Thames Valley police departments have commented on the Detainee A disclosure.
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