Prince Andrew's arrest is being absorbed through the Epstein lens because that's the story most people already have in their heads, but the actual charge is something more specific and in some ways more provable. Misconduct in public office means he's accused of passing confidential trade and investment information, received in his role as UK special trade representative, directly to Epstein for financial benefit, often within seconds of receiving it. The sex trafficking connection may emerge later. What's been charged right now is closer to leaking secrets to someone who profited from them.

Randell Hansen at the Munk School of Global Affairs describes this as the most serious crisis the monarchy has faced in a century, more serious than the abdication and more serious than the public grief over Diana's death, because this one is legal and Andrew could go to prison. King Charles's response has been to distance the institution as completely as possible: titles gone, lodgings gone, and a public statement that Hansen translates as the family throwing Andrew to the wolves. The late Queen apparently knew about his behavior for years and chose to protect him. That protection ended when she did.

For Canada, Hansen is direct: republican sentiment will climb here, but this isn't the moment to push for a republic, partly because of the constitutional complexity and partly because the most visible republic right now is the one next door talking about annexation.

Topics: Prince Andrew arrest, misconduct in public office UK, Epstein files, Canadian monarchy republicanism, Peter Mandelson charges

GUEST: Randell Hansen | Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Originally aired on 2026-02-19