King Charles received a warm welcome in central London on Thursday and went ahead with public duties just hours after police arrested his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The King visited London Fashion Week at 180 Strand where he toured exhibitions and went to the opening show. Reports said people greeted him with cheers.
Thames Valley Police said it arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk at about 8am on February 19.
Police said it was searching addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk as part of an investigation into suspected misconduct in public office. Police said the man remained in custody and warned the case was active.
It urged care in reporting to avoid contempt of court. Sources identified the arrested man as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor who formerly known as Prince Andrew, who turned 66 on Thursday.
In a statement issued through Buckingham Palace, King Charles said he had learned with the deepest concern of the news and backed a full legal process.
“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,” he said. He added the family would provide full and wholehearted support and co-operation with investigators.
The investigation is focused on claims Andrew shared confidential information while serving in a UK trade role.
This includes allegations linked to his long scrutinised association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has repeatedly denied wrongdoing connected to Epstein.
The arrest marks a new low in the former royal’s long fall from public life after years of controversy over his ties to Epstein and a civil settlement with Virginia Giuffre who accused him of sexual abuse which he denied.