Royal Arrests: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Joins 58 Historical Cases
The recent arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother to King Charles III, on suspicion of misconduct in office has sent shockwaves through the nation. While many media outlets have described this event as unprecedented, historical records reveal a different story. Royal arrests were a relatively common practice in England and later the United Kingdom until the late 17th century.
A Long History of Royal Detentions
Contrary to popular belief, the last royal arrest was not that of King Charles I in 1646, which famously led to his execution in 1649. From the Norman conquest in 1066 up to the early 18th century, a total of 58 royals—34 males and 24 females—were arrested. The fates of these individuals varied dramatically: 19 were released, one escaped, 12 died in custody, 21 were executed, three vanished under mysterious circumstances, and two were murdered.
Siblings of Monarchs: A Vulnerable Position
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is not the first sibling of a monarch to face arrest. Perhaps the most notorious case is that of George, Duke of Clarence, younger brother of King Edward IV. Accused of treason, George was imprisoned, stripped of his titles, removed from the succession, and executed in the Tower of London in 1478. Legend claims he was drowned in a barrel of malmsey wine.
The last sibling of a monarch to be arrested was the future Queen Elizabeth I. In 1554, her sister, Mary I, imprisoned Elizabeth in the Tower of London on charges of conspiracy. After a couple of months, she was moved to house arrest on May 19—the anniversary of her mother Anne Boleyn's execution. Elizabeth was eventually pardoned in 1555 following intercession by King Philip, Mary's husband.
Innocent Children Caught in Power Struggles
Royal arrests were not limited to adults suspected of treason. Innocent children were often imprisoned under the guise of protection, but in reality as a means to control the succession. The famous Princes in the Tower—Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury—were kept in the Tower by their usurping uncle, Richard III, after he took the throne in 1483. They vanished shortly thereafter, with Richard widely suspected of their murder.
Another tragic case involved Eleanor and Arthur of Brittany, imprisoned by their uncle, King John, in the early 1200s. Arthur vanished after 1203 and is presumed murdered, while Eleanor languished in prison for the rest of her life, dying in custody at Bristol Castle in 1241.
Charges Beyond Treason: Heresy and Witchcraft
While most arrested royals faced accusations of treason and conspiracy, these charges were often compounded with allegations of heresy and witchcraft. Henry V had his stepmother, Joan of Navarre, arrested on suspicion of sorcery. His son, Henry VI, confined his aunt by marriage, Eleanor Cobham, in 1441 under charges of necromancy. Historians suggest these imprisonments may have masked ulterior motives—financial in Joan's case and political in Eleanor's.
Henry VIII: The Most Prolific Royal Arrestor
The reign of Henry VIII stands out as the most prolific period for royal arrests. The Tudor monarch placed 12 close relatives in custody, including three wives (Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Anne of Cleves), a niece (Margaret Pole), and a first cousin (Henry Courtenay). This demonstrates how royal arrests were often tools of political and personal manipulation.
The Last Royal Imprisonment Before Modern Times
The final royal imprisonment before the modern era occurred in 1694 with Sophia Dorothea of Celle. The wife of George of Hanover—who later became King George I in 1714—was accused of adultery. Despite being the mother of the Prince of Wales, Sophia remained locked up even after her former husband ascended to the throne, dying in custody in 1726.
Conclusion: A Practice Rooted in History
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor represents the latest chapter in a long history of royal detentions that was fairly constant until the late 17th century. While the circumstances and legal frameworks have evolved, the vulnerability of royals to arrest—particularly those close to the throne—has historical precedent stretching back centuries. This context provides important perspective on current events, reminding us that royal arrests, while rare in modern times, are not without historical parallel.
About the author: Gonzalo Velasco Berenguer is a Lecturer in History at the University of Bristol. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
