King Charles Weighs In on His Brother's Arrest

King Charles is not rushing to his brother's defense. In a statement issued after the stunning arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the king reiterated that the palace would fully cooperate with the investigation into charges of misconduct in public office, reports the Guardian. "Let me state clearly: the law must take its course," wrote the king.

• Statement: The BBC has the full statement. Charles professes his "deepest concern" over the allegations, adding: "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."

• 'Striking:' The New York Times finds the statement "striking" because Charles signed it personally. He also concluded with a message to the British public—"My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all"—though Megan Specia writes that "it is unlikely that the clear statement will end the public scrutiny of his family and its response."
• The charges: Mountbatten-Windsor is accused of sharing confidential trade information with Jeffrey Epstein. The misconduct charges carry a maximum life sentence.
• More to come? Vanity Fair, quoting sources close to Charles, previously reported that the king is worried the scandal will only continue to worsen. "There's a sense of not knowing what is coming next and that is destabilizing," one insider tells the outlet. "The king has done everything he can; he has stripped Andrew of his titles, removed him from his home, and is trying to keep Andrew out of the picture, but it is proving to be impossible."