1649 – The arrest of King Charles I marks the last time a senior British royal is taken into custody before the 2026 Prince Andrew case, highlighting the historic rarity of such actions[19].

1936 – Edward VIII’s abdication becomes the most serious constitutional crisis since the monarchy, a benchmark against which commentators compare the Andrew scandal[17].

2001 – Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor receives appointment as Britain’s special representative for international trade, a role later scrutinised for alleged document leaks[20].

2011 – Andrew’s trade‑envoy position ends after renewed media focus on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, foreshadowing later legal exposure[1].

2019 – Queen Elizabeth II allows Andrew to use Buckingham Palace for a disastrous BBC interview, later cited as a missed opportunity to curb his misconduct[6].

2021 – Andrew settles a multimillion‑pound civil claim with Virginia Giuffre, acknowledging financial responsibility without admitting wrongdoing[14].

2022 – Charles strips Andrew of military titles and royal patronages and ends his “His Royal Highness” style, beginning the royal family’s isolation strategy[14].

2023 – The U.S. “Epstein Files Transparency Act” forces release of thousands of emails, later providing the evidence that triggers the UK misconduct probe[4][16].

2024 (≈ Aug) – The “Siege of Royal Lodge” forces Andrew out of his Windsor mansion after the King cuts off his finances, a pre‑emptive move ahead of the 2026 arrest[1].

2024 – A court case reveals Andrew’s association with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, raising national‑security concerns that broaden the investigation’s scope[20].

Apr 2025 – Virginia Giuffre dies by suicide, intensifying public pressure for accountability in the Epstein‑related inquiries[20].

Oct 2025 – Charles formally removes Andrew’s princely title and orders his eviction from Royal Lodge, leaving him eighth in the line of succession but without royal honours[5][15].

Feb 19, 2026 – Andrew is arrested at Sandringham on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the first senior‑royal arrest in nearly four centuries[19][25].

Feb 19, 2026 – He spends roughly 11 hours in custody before being released under investigation, with police conducting searches at Royal Lodge, Wood Farm and other residences[25][9].

Feb 19, 2026 – King Charles issues a brief statement that “the law must take its course” and pledges “full and wholehearted support and cooperation” with police[5][21].

Feb 20, 2026 – Charles publicly backs the police, reiterating “full and wholehearted support and cooperation” and urging the law to proceed[1][6].

Feb 20, 2026 – Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, publicly endorse Charles’s statement, presenting a united front amid the crisis[6].

Feb 20, 2026 – Andrew loses any remaining royal titles and is evicted from Royal Lodge, cementing his separation from the institution[13].

Feb 20, 2026 – Former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson falls under a parallel investigation for similar alleged document leaks, highlighting a wider network of potential misconduct[13].

Feb 20, 2026 – Princess Beatrice’s succession prospects improve as Parliament debates legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession[13].

Feb 20, 2026 – The UK Parliament prepares a bill to strip Andrew from the succession, a measure that would require consent from all 14 Commonwealth realms[7][18].

Feb 20, 2026 – U.S. lawmakers, citing the 2023 Epstein‑files law, call for American accountability and propose a congressional meeting with Andrew, underscoring trans‑Atlantic pressure[4].

Feb 20, 2026 – President Donald Trump, aboard Air Force One, describes the arrest as “very sad” for the royal family, linking it to the upcoming April state visit of King Charles III[16].

Feb 20, 2026 – Andrew returns Norway’s Order of St Olav, a symbolic gesture amid the scandal[12].

Feb 20, 2026 – Charles attends London Fashion Week, signalling that the monarchy will continue its public duties despite the controversy[13].

Feb 20, 2026 – Police resume a search of Royal Lodge, indicating ongoing evidence collection while the investigation proceeds[18].

Feb 21, 2026 – The royal family maintains its public schedule: Charles sits front‑row at Fashion Week, Camilla performs at a concert, and Princess Anne tours a prison, illustrating a strategy of continuity[17].

Feb 21, 2026 – Charles signs a written statement pledging continued service to the nation and reaffirming support for the police probe[17].

Apr 2026 (planned) – King Charles III is set to make a state visit to the United States, an event that may be shadowed by the ongoing Andrew investigation and U.S. congressional interest[16].

Future (post‑probe) – Parliament is expected to introduce legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession, a change that would only take effect with approval from all Commonwealth realms[7][18].