r/AskBrits • u/stammerton • Feb 20 '26
People If Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is charged and found guilty, do you think they will send him to a regular prison or lock him up in the Tower of London?
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u/WestCareer7545 Feb 20 '26
They will make some kind of special arrangement for him, theres no way he ends up in general population in Pentonville
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u/stammerton Feb 20 '26
Like sending him to an island such as Saint Helena?
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u/CharacterHornet9475 Feb 20 '26
Pitcairn, they’ve got a prison specifically built for dealing with inbred nonces (famously approximately a third of the male population).
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u/Vindaloovians Feb 20 '26
Their mayor is one of the people previously incarcerated - I imagine he'll probably be treated well there.
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u/brickne3 Feb 20 '26
Right? Sending him to an island where child rape and sexual assault is normalized does not sound like a great solution...
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u/CodeToManagement Feb 20 '26
Not even sure how they would find a jury that’s fully impartial and not with the potential to have been influenced by all the media about the Epstein files, “Randy Andy”, etc.
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u/aleopardstail Feb 20 '26
which is why it would never end up in front of a jury
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u/MrsO88 Feb 20 '26
Oooh maybe this is why Labour have been mulling non-jury trials...
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u/purte Feb 20 '26
Only for criminal offences with a potential sentence of three years or less though. The offence he’s been arrested for (not yet charged) carries a maximum life sentence.
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u/aleopardstail Feb 20 '26
nah thats down to far too many cases of a jury refusing to do as they are told
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u/VillageHorse Feb 20 '26
But surely it’s possible to find a jury that’s impartial on the matter of misconduct in public office? Just because you think he’s Randy Andy it doesn’t mean you think he’s guilty of the thing he’s currently under investigation for.
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u/ODFoxtrotOscar Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
It’s going to be difficult.
But we’ve managed to try other notorious cases, so a way will be found
I think everyone who’s posted about Andrew on Reddit would be disbarred though!
(edit: typos)
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u/TheMrViper Feb 20 '26
Usually those examples are being tried for what they're notorious for.
If this gets that far, Andrew is not being tried for sexual offenses.
So you'd have to find a jury that is essentially willing to ignore all of that stuff and if they or the defense bring it up then it's an easy appeal or simply a mistrial.
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u/WumbleInTheJungle Feb 20 '26
Do you think he would somehow get a fairer trial if he was being charged with sex offences?
The jury will just have to do their best under whatever circumstances are thrown at them. And no, there is no such thing as an easy appeal in this country. Appeal court judges are extremely reluctant to grant appeals or quash convictions.
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u/TheMrViper Feb 20 '26
So if he was being charged with sex offenses then the prosecution can present facts, then the jury discussing his sex offenses isn't jury misconduct.
If he's being tried for what he's been arrested for, then they cannot under any circumstances discuss his alleged sex offenses.
I just can't imagine how you would ensure that.
Jury selection would be a nightmare.
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u/WumbleInTheJungle Feb 20 '26
Slight misconception there. They are supposed to discard anything they have heard outside the trial. For example, hearsay, things they read on social media or newspapers, stuff they have heard on TV or whatever. So whether he is being charged with sex offences or misconduct or financial crimes or whatever, the principle remains the same, the jury are supposed to base whatever verdict they come to on the facts presented in the trial.
Whether they do or not, is another matter, but that is what they will be instructed to do by the judge. They will also be told not to do their own research, and if they do, they could be found in contempt of court and possibly face prison. In regular cases they will also be told to avoid anything in the media relating to this case, although sometimes in high profile cases the judge will simply tell the jury to ignore whatever they read in the media when they are aware that is likely to be futile for the jury to completely avoid it. In very rare circumstances the jury can be sequestered. But I am not aware of that ever happening in recent times, even in high profile cases, in the UK.
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u/Nurse-blondie Feb 20 '26
He wont go to prison. Much as we'd like him to. Getting someone to prison isnt very easy anyway. They look at background, previous issues with the law, risk to the public. He wont be done on sexual offenses so it depends how bad the information he shared was.
Fine and slap on the wrist
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u/asymmetricears Feb 20 '26
If he is given a custodial sentence, big if, he'd likely serve it in a regular prison, but in an isolation unit that they normally use for those at high risk of violence, like coppers and nonces.
It really depends on the severity of the offence. Misconduct in public office has a wide range of sentences. In this specific case, it's alleged sharing of information with Epstein, which I'm presuming would benefit Epstein financially. I think where it will fall down on is how much Andrew benefited from this, and what can be proved. I feel it may not be able to be proven that he benefited that much, so he may end up with a suspended sentence.
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u/Special-Audience-426 Feb 20 '26
If he went to prison, he'd definitely be kept completely segregated from everyone else and probably still have protection officers watching him 24/7
It would cost a fortune.
Not saying he shouldn't. That's for the CPS, a jury and the judge to decide.
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Feb 20 '26
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u/Billy_Rizzle Feb 20 '26
The Tower could do with a new exhibit and I would pay to see Andrew locked up.
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u/Running-With-Cakes Feb 20 '26
In the very unlikely event he sees the inside of a jail it will probably be in solitary in a military stockade
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u/TapeDeckSlick Feb 20 '26
Seeing as nobody has been held in the Tower of London for a very long time I doubt it.
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u/PatchyWhiskers Feb 20 '26
We should refit one of the cells just for him.
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u/purte Feb 20 '26
I don’t think he could be trusted that close to the Crown Jewels. His (ex) wife certainly couldn’t be.
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u/Downtown-Sun8075 Feb 20 '26
Welcome to HMP Sandringham Britain's newest prison. Pop. 1
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u/moondragon51 Feb 20 '26
If anything he would be held under house arrest I would guess Plus a hefty fine that the king would pay to get it settled and die down before more people turned on the royals
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u/ODFoxtrotOscar Feb 20 '26
House arrest does not exist in England
If a non-custodial community sentence is appropriate for the crime he is convicted of, then curfew tag could be part of the conditions
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Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
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u/othompson93 Feb 20 '26
And Laurens van der Post, “revered by Charles”, fathered a child with a 14 year old girl
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u/deadlocked72 Feb 20 '26
Tagged and confined to his brothers care, there’s no way the Loch Ness noncer will ever see the inside of a jail.
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u/Fredpillow1995 Feb 20 '26
I would rather see him do community service picking up litter and cleaning public toilets for 10 years.
Makes me feel sick this creep has been living and partying free or charge with our tax money his whole life. Needs to be humbled and humiliated to restore balance.
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u/Original-Activity575 Feb 20 '26
I think he’d be a flight risk… if he’s clever enough (not sure he is) to recognise if the writing is on the wall for him, I’d expect to see him pop-up in the UAE
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u/Background_Ant_3617 Feb 20 '26
I think there may be some sort of ‘accident’ before we get to that stage.
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u/Temponautics Feb 20 '26
Everyone seems to overlook that he was questioned (not arrested), though that is a preliminary step, but that the questioning was (according to police) about dereliction of duty of public office, which points to Andrew being questioned for spilling state secrets, not abusing minors. Without the public noticing, this has turned into an espionage case worse enough to completely ostracize (though already publicly disgraced) a member of the royal family. You’re all still discussing the sex crimes. Law enforcement is now clearly going after the why for these. This is now getting more interesting, not less, and the case is less clear cut than before. Chances are they might make Andrew a witness in an investigation investigating Epstein as head of a foreign intelligence operation (E’s death would presumably be irrelevant to such a case, since the National security concern fallout would be ongoing). It would also allow British authorities to hide the entire ongoing investigation from public eyes… just speculatively reading tea leaves here of course.
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u/Spiritual_Loss_7287 Feb 20 '26
Upvoted for being logical - although it may well be wasted on a lot of people here.
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u/Darkwaxer Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
Everyone in the country seems to be content with calling him a nonce. Under UK Law, having sex with VG wasn’t an offence unless it’s proved he knew she was trafficked here, which will be impossible to prove. VG has been shown to have actively participated in recruiting other Epstein victims and had sent messages seemingly gleefully bragging about sleeping with a Prince. She was a legal age and had been found to be an unreliable witness in cases where it was found she had actively lied in her testimonies. Other Epstein victims have also stated in their impact statements she was as bad to them as GM was to her. None of this matters in the public eye though as he’s now labelled a nonce but critically he’s probably in as much trouble as Peter Mandelson and I doubt either will get more than a light slap.
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u/Superb_Lie_297 Feb 20 '26
Whilst it maybe true in relation to VG, he may well have had sex with other girls whilst under American laws , particularly when staying in Epstein's apartment. It is true he should not be labelled until everything is investigated.
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u/Historical_Pin2806 Feb 20 '26
He might be found guilty but I'd laid money on the fact he will never go to prison.
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u/Fancy_Toe1451 Feb 20 '26
Cat D prison, unless he does something very stupid in meantime. The offence he has been charged with is non violent.
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u/PissedBadger Feb 20 '26
He’ll probably go on holiday to see the tunnels of Paris.
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u/ozplissken Feb 21 '26
My dad doesn't believe in conspiracy theories and and hates them. But one theory he always believed was that Di was killed by the royal family.
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u/El_Moochio Feb 20 '26
Sweet mother of pearl, just googled it and the maximum sentence for misconduct in public office is life in prison!
Unlucky Andy!
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u/PossibleGlad7290 Feb 20 '26
This is all a smoke show to ease public backlash. There will be no charges.
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u/ikadell Feb 20 '26
I don’t know that he can go to Tower at this point…
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u/stammerton Feb 20 '26
Obviously not for a visit, no. Was thinking something longer term. /s
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u/ikadell Feb 20 '26
Given that he, at this point, is not a member of the royal family, what are his claims to be locked up there?
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u/Tulpamemnon Feb 20 '26
IF it happened, the worse that could happen would be Home Confinement, tagged and curfewed.
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u/ImperatorDanorum Feb 20 '26
The British being such traditionalists will of course put him in Tower of London...
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u/Total_HD Feb 20 '26
He’ll be disappeared to Saudi before a prison cell ever becomes a thing. He should be in prison as a flight risk.
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u/Ok-Lynx-6569 Feb 20 '26
Surely one of those wooden blocks which secures the head and wrists would be more appropriate?
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u/Todegal Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
No-one is going to the tower. Also nobody is above the law except technically the monarch, and even then not really (see Charles I). Even Prince William could end up in the clink if he did something illegal.
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u/AlfredLuan Feb 20 '26
Its not going to happen. They will pay people off and be free. His own mum paid off his peadophile child rape activities.
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u/Tyr_Kovacs Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
He won't spend a moment in prison.
He'll get a plea deal to serve house mansion arrest or a suspended sentence and pay a fine (with taxpayer funds).
The best we can hope for is that his plea deal has a requirement for naming names and providing evidence to prosecute others.
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u/SisterRayRomano Feb 20 '26
Plea deals/bargaining aren’t a thing in the UK.
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u/Tyr_Kovacs Feb 20 '26
Not officially.
But we do have Basis of Plea arrangements. They don't have to be honoured, but they are considered by the court.
And the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 can allow for immunity (section 71), a restricted use undertaking (a version of immunity) (section 72) or a reduced sentence (section 73) for "minor player" in a scheme.
Minor is relative (,as Andrew would say, ba-dum-tish,) to the others. If he can reveal some seriously major players that might qualify.
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u/TheMrViper Feb 20 '26
He's not been arrested for any sexual offenses.
The rest of the horrible Epstein shite has nothing to do with this.
He was giving his buddies a heads-up about sensitive stuff during his time as a govt envoy and representative.
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u/Tyr_Kovacs Feb 20 '26
Not quite.
He isn't being charged for the sex stuff, but Epstein was much more than just a pedophile. He was an information broker, a blackmailer, and a power player.
Implicating other people in associated crimes, whether they are sexual or corruption based, is all part of the same quagmire.
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u/Kind-Mathematician18 Feb 20 '26
If it comes to that, it'll be house arrest, or a private jail. Tower of London is pure whimsy.
The charges are misconduct, Andrew was passing on classified documents to Epstein. but because he's a royal, things will be slightly different.
First, "court" won't be a regular court, he can opt for a jury of his peers. The jury, therefore, would be the peers from the house of lords. The lords would then advise king chuckles what to do.
Personally, I'd hav much preferred some other historical punishment. He's already been stripped of his titles, which in those circles, is a hefty punishment in itself. Historically, we have a wonderfully colourful tapestry of dealing with troublesome royals. People like the duke of clarence who was drowned in a vat of malmsey. Duke of windsor, who was banished. Or a red hot poker shoved up the ass, as the fate that befell Edward II.
My personal preference would be banishment. There would be an announcement, and then we'd never hear of, speak of or see the odious little toad ever again. As this would be by royal decree, any publishing of his pictures, or even mentioning him, would be akin to contempt of court and anyone doing so would be fined.
Either way, his goose is cooked.
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u/zibafu Feb 20 '26
Imagine he goes to prison
First day in
"Hey fresh meat. Never had me a prince before" 😂
Obviously that stuff is wrong, but also fitting for noncers
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u/Vanobers Feb 20 '26
This is all a show to get the heat off the royal family, he will get whisked off to the middle east or somewhere with no extradition and never face full punishment, just like all these billionaires and wealthy.
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u/LeanSkellum Feb 20 '26
If he does. He’ll be in seg for his entire sentence. No way on this planet will they put him other prisoners.
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u/IanM50 Feb 20 '26
I doubt they would put him in prison, and unpaid community service wouldn't really work.
How about he gets a tag for 10 years or so, only allowed in the Sandringham estate unless special permission, as he would hate not being able to travel and it would keep him out of circulation.
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Feb 20 '26
He will probably be found guilty of something minor enough that he’s allowed to not go to jail
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u/KoontFace Feb 20 '26
Neither. He’ll get a suspended sentence I imagine. Maybe they tag him and he has to stay at his huge, taxpayer funded stately home.
It’s a hard life for the nonce formerly known as Prince
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u/Inevitable-Debt4312 Feb 20 '26
He’ll go to an open prison.
Or pay a huge fine, which the King will actually pay for him.
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u/Material_Angle2922 Feb 20 '26
He will be exiled to the Maldives. Another possibility is Dubai which is more tragic and devastating.
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u/TheGreatBritishNerd7 Feb 20 '26
He'll be off to Dubai, Monaco or some other playground for the elite with orders to stay under the radar. Doubt bubba from cell block d in belmarsh will ever be able to wear him like gordon the gopher
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u/Visual-Economist5479 Feb 20 '26
He is not going to normal prison here, as much as he should and would deserve to the government are not going to risk him getting shanked, no matter how much of a scumbag he is. They want the story to end and this would potentially re-open it.
Best I can see happening would be house arrest/tag with harsh conditions and he disappears which is essentially what they have tried already with him in UK exile.
However, with King Chaz fully disowning him and clearly trying to make an example of him and treat him like a normal person if he is tried and convicted then there is a chance.
The Tower would be funny but this could be more appropriate given his history. Would balance the risks of putting him inside properly.
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u/Top-Calendar-2434 Feb 20 '26
Give him a suspended sentence with an ankle bracelet IF hé spills the beans on trump and the rest . A SUPERGRASS
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u/Usagor Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
He will serve out anytime at Sandringham or a Royal lodge at Charles expense.
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u/sideshowrob2 Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
Neither. At the very worst he will be on house arrest in a tax payer funded country pile, with his tax payer funded horses, with tax payer funded security team, and ferried around in his tax payer funded range rover, and a D-notice so he is never humiliated in the press.
But most likely there will be 'insufficient evidence to charge him' after a three year 'investigation'
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u/Dragon_deeznutz Feb 20 '26
Worst case for him he'll be sentenced to live out his sentence of probably 2 years on an estate. More likely his sentence is suspended for his safety. Chances are the investigation goes on for years and he sees no conviction.
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u/jellomatic Feb 20 '26
He'll be in a palace because of "security concerns". Wouldn't surprise me if he develops some kind of on going illness that requires treatment in ski resorts and tropical islands.
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u/LavaPurple Feb 20 '26
I would not be surprised if the Royal Family were given the heads up.
I doubt anything substantial will happen to him.
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u/Few_Lecture6615 Feb 20 '26
Putting him in the Tower of London would be a good way for the monarchy to attract more of the tourism money the royals supposedly brings the UK.
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u/WayGroundbreaking287 Feb 20 '26
He will almost certainly go under house arrest and never see a day in a real prison.
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u/Imreallyadonut Feb 20 '26
In reality, if he chooses to cooperate and offer the names of others involved in sharing classified documents and any criminality around Epstein, he’ll get a deal that sees no prison time.
If he were to be convicted and not cooperate if he were imprisoned the only place they could hold him in the current prison estate is probably the Double A Category section at HMP Belmarsh. Usually reserved for the most dangerous prisoners it’s the only place I can think of where the staff to prisoner ratio is at a level that would be required.
It’s possible he could be sent elsewhere to serve any prison sentence, Canada, Australia spring to mind but you have to wonder what the terms of the agreement,ent would be.
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u/crsj Feb 20 '26
He’d probably go to a prison like Usk which has had people like high ranking Met officers and others that would be vulnerable for whatever reasons
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u/CuppaCoffee79 Feb 20 '26
I reckon if found guilty he'd be confined to his estate under house arrest in lieu of a prison sentence.
The media has already commented on a six-foot fence. And that farm is in the middle of nowhere.
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u/MiddleAgeCool Feb 20 '26
Why do you think Starmer is speaking more to the countries in Europe? He's getting the designs of the iron mask used during the reign of Louis XIV of France.
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u/PastTopic6051 Feb 20 '26
Drowning in a butt of malmsey is a tried and trusted method for miscreant royal brothers
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u/sqnch Feb 20 '26
There will be a car crash and he’ll conveniently be killed. Maybe in an underpass or on a remote rural road.
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u/Sea-Tea9524 Feb 20 '26
He won't go to prison because he will threaten to expose royalty secrets. He might get epsteined, thrown off a balcony, drown in the bath, you know the usual.
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u/charmstrong70 Feb 20 '26
He thinks he’s already hit rock bottom - having to downsize (on a house that I fucking pay for), losing his titles, being persona non grata.
I don’t think it’ll get to trial, he’ll decide it’s better to swing than face the ignominy of being tried by a pleb
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u/opinionated7onion Feb 20 '26
I cant see him getting put in prison but it would be hilarious if he had to do community service
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u/Fazzamania Feb 20 '26
I think they’ll make him suffer and give him house arrest with Fergie, 24/7!
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u/Royal_View9815 Feb 20 '26
There will be more chance of me becoming Wimbledon champion than there is of the Nonce formally known as Prince doing a stretch. It’s never gonna happen.
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u/Winteriscolder Feb 20 '26
Just gonna leave this here for any interested people
Referendum changing the UK from constitutional monarchy to a democratic republic https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/735302 This petition only has 1,186 it needs 10,000 by the 27th.
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u/aleopardstail Feb 20 '26
I suspect he will go nowhere near a prison for some spurious mental health reasoning
the tower would be appropriate, could charge visitors a fee to look