Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles, was taken into custody on Thursday under allegations of misconduct in public office, according to reports.

Thames Valley Police confirmed the arrest of a man in his 60s, stating they are investigating claims of misconduct and conducting searches in Berkshire and Norfolk.

The police have opted not to disclose the identity of the arrested individual, adhering to national protocols. He is currently being held in custody.

Investigators are looking into accusations that he may have shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, during his tenure as the UK's trade envoy.

Previously, Thames Valley Police indicated they were examining allegations found in the so-called 'Epstein files', which include claims that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein for an encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor.

The 'Epstein files' consist of extensive documents, emails, and videos released by the US Department of Justice, detailing Epstein's activities and connections with various public figures.

Recent documents released in January suggested that the former prince had shared details of official visits to locations such as Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore.

One email from November 2010 was reportedly forwarded by Mountbatten-Windsor shortly after it was sent by his special adviser, Amir Patel. Another email, sent on Christmas Eve of the same year, allegedly contained sensitive information regarding investment opportunities in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

Notably, Thursday marked Mountbatten-Windsor's 66th birthday, making him the first senior royal in modern British history to face arrest.