King Charles III on Mountbatten-Windsor arrest: 'The law must take its course'

King Charles III has released a statement saying "the law must take its course" over the arrest of his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office earlier on Thursday.

Britain's King Charles III says the "law must take its course" and that police have his full support following the arrest of his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Thursday over suspicion of misconduct in public office.His detention is thought to be related to his time as a UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, and comes after US authorities published thousands of emails related to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Police can hold the former prince for a maximum of 96 hours with permission from senior officers and a magistrates' court.Royal reactionIn a statement from Buckingham Palace on the arrest, King Charles said, “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."“In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation," King Charles added. “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.""As this process continues, it would not be right of me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all," he concluded.It's the latest embarrassment in a long line of mishaps for the former prince, who was stripped of his title last October by King Charles.Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday, moved to King Charles’ estate in Norfolk after he was evicted from his longtime home near Windsor Castle earlier this month.He has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.The arrest of the senior royal family member is undoubtedly one of the gravest crises to affect the House of Windsor since its establishment more than a hundred years ago.Arguably, only the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936 and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 have been graver for the institution of the British monarchy.