'Andrew is effectively a commoner, and is expected to be treated as such by the law'

Perhaps for the first time in his privileged life, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor would be feeling a sense of worry.

Within hours of the former Duke of York's arrest on his 66th birthday, his brother, King Charles said the "law must take its course".

For Andrew, his membership of the royal family will have no bearing on how he is treated by the law.

He is effectively a commoner and is expected to be treated as such.

On Thursday, which happened to be Andrew's birthday, he was taken into custody just after 8am after officers arrived at Wood Farm – his temporary home on the King's Sandringham Estate – days after it was revealed seven police forces were considering opening investigations.

He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations contained in the Epstein files, which claimed he shared confidential official documents and reports with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his time working as a trade envoy for the UK, between 2001 and 2011.

Andrew was later released under investigation after being held and questioned for nearly 12 hours at Aylsham police station in Norfolk.

READ MORE: Why Andrew's arrest is the modern royal family's rock bottom

READ MORE: This was the last senior British royal to be arrested

READ MORE: How the UK is reacting to news of Andrew's arrest

For a man who was born inside Buckingham Palace, and who has spent most of his life living in luxury, being confined to a police cell would have been quite the shock.

Policing commentator Danny Shaw told the BBC Andrew would have been put in "a cell in a custody suite" with just "a bed and a toilet" while awaiting the interview.

Shaw said there would "be no special treatment for him".

Like any other person arrested, Andrew would have been searched for any personal items could be used to harm himself or others including his phone, jewellery, watch, belt or tie.

Andrew's rights would have been explained to him including the right to legal advice and the right to notify someone of his arrest.

His legal bill, it is understood, will be funded privately and not by the British taxpayer.

King Charles' statement, issued soon after his brother's arrest, was yet another sign of the monarch, as head of the royal family, trying to distance itself from the disgraced former Duke of York once and for all.

King Charles was washing his hands of his brother, in a sense, months after formally stripping Andrew of his royal titles and evicting him from Crown Estate property, Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Two weeks ago, the King had said Buckingham Palace was "ready to support" police if the need arose.

Speaking before Andrew's arrest, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said "nobody is above the law".

"They will conduct their own investigations, but one of the core principles in our system is that everybody is equal under the law and nobody is above the law," Sir Keir said.

"It's a very important principle of our country... and it has to apply in this case in the same way it would in any other case."

A line in the statement from Thames Valley Police soon after Andrew's arrest was another example of how the former prince would be treated like any other person: "The man remains in police custody at this time".

The man.

Charges are yet to be laid and it remains unknown if any will be brought against Andrew.

But what is clear is just how serious the situation is for Andrew who, staggeringly, remains eighth-in-line to the British throne.

There is a maximum life sentence for someone found guilty of misconduct in public office, according to the UK's Crown Prosecution Service.

Jail is just one of the possible sentences that are available, should charges be brought against Andrew and be proven true in court.

It is unthinkable that a senior royal is now facing criminal charges and, in the worst possible scenario, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing concerning the allegations made against him and his arrest, now, is no indication of guilt.

His arrest is also unrelated to other allegations of sex abuse, which he has always denied.

But the development is being seen as a potential tip of the iceberg after the latest release of Epstein files, which contained three million pages of emails and documents. Andrew and Epstein sent hundreds of emails to each other over many years.

February 19 will forever be remembered as the day Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother of King Charles, was arrested.

The last time a senior royal was arrested was during the English Civil War when Charles I was held in captivity before his trial at Westminster Hall and execution at Whitehall in 1649.

Before that, two of King Henry VIII's wives – Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard – were beheaded when charges were brought against them.

Thankfully for Andrew, modern times calls for modern ways of dealing with things.

He may be feeling very alone though, despite being part of one of the world's most famous, and wealthy, dynasties.

King Charles said, via his statement overnight: "What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.

"In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course."

King Charles' words echoed, in a sense, a statement his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, issued when Andrew was sued in a US Civil Court.

He had been accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre and was facing the prospect of testifying in a witness box and answering questions under oath.

In January 2022, in agreement with his mother, Andrew handed back all of his military affiliations and royal patronages.

But her statement, via Buckingham Palace, dealt Andrew a more personal blow. Andrew, the Queen said, was "defending this case as a private citizen".

The case was later settled out of court after Andrew paid Giuffre a multi-million fee.

But that case was civil. Andrew is now facing possible criminal charges.

He's no longer a prince and simply a commoner, albeit one who still has succession rights to the British throne.

He is still a counsellor of state – a member of the royal family who can carry out state duties on behalf of the monarch, if the sovereign is not available, however unlikely that scenario is in reality.

But no amount of royal blood, or royal connections, will help Andrew now in his biggest time of need.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.