Can King Charles III pardon his brother Andrew? Why it's unlikely.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 19, his 66th birthday, for suspicion of misconduct in public life. Hours later, he was released from police custody.

The former prince allegedly leaked confidential information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to previousUSA TODAY reporting. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing.

King Charles III is the older brother of Mountbatten-Windsor and in response to the arrest, issued a statement via Buckingham Palace signaling support for a "full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities."

"Let me state clearly: the law must take its course," the king added. "As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all."

Still, some might wonder if the king could pardon his brother, former Prince Andrew. The short answer: it's very unlikely. Here's what to know.

Live updates:Former Prince Andrew seen in first photo since release after arrest

Police officers, unmarked vehicles and media were seen at residences linked to disgraced former royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Feb. 19, 2026. Windsor was reportedly arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on the Sandringham estate. In a statement, Thames Valley police said they were also "carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk" as part of the investigation. See the scene outside various residences, beginning here near the entrance to Wood Farm in Sandringham, Norfolk.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The media gather to report near the home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Feb. 19, 2026, in Sandringham, Norfolk.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Unmarked police vehicles enter the gates of the Royal Lodge, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former residence in Windsor Great Park, on Feb. 19, 2026, in Windsor, England.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> In this photo illustration, a statement from His Majesty King Charles III via communications at Buckingham Palace pledges his "full and wholehearted support and co-operation" to the "appropriate authorities" in response to the arrest of his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Unmarked vehicles exit the gates of the Royal Lodge, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former residence in Windsor Great Park, Feb. 19, 2026, in Windsor, England.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A person steps out of unmarked car at the home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Feb. 19, 2026, in Sandringham, Norfolk.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Unmarked police vehicles exit the gates of the Royal Lodge, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former residence in Windsor Great Park, Feb. 19, 2026, in Windsor, England.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Unmarked vehicles exit the gates of the Royal Lodge, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former residence in Windsor Great Park, Feb. 19, 2026, in Windsor, England.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Police investigate homes tied to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor amid his arrest

Police officers, unmarked vehicles and media were seen at residences linked todisgraced former royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsoron Feb. 19, 2026. Windsor wasreportedly arrestedon suspicion of misconduct in public office on the Sandringham estate. In a statement, Thames Valley police said they were also "carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk" as part of the investigation. See the scene outside various residences, beginning here near the entrance to Wood Farm in Sandringham, Norfolk.

Who is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor?Ex-prince tied to Epstein scandal

Can King Charles pardon ex-Prince Andrew?

King Charles holds the "royal prerogative of mercy," a power granted to the ruling British monarch that allows them to issue pardons for persons convicted of criminal offenses, according to theUK government.

If Mountbatten-Windsor is convicted of a crime, it's technically not impossible for him to receive a pardon from his brother, King Charles. However, issuing clemency would require approval from governing bodies.

The king has no direct power to ask for a pardon, Robert Hazell, director of the Constitution Unit at University College London, said in emailed comments to USA TODAY.

"King Charles has no discretion independently to exercise the prerogative of mercy: He can only do so on the advice of the government," said Hazell.

Expert: An Andrew pardon could cause 'riot in the streets'

Another reason a pardon is unlikely is because the British public would likely not approve and the king could face backlash.

When the then-prince was stripped of his royal titles in 2025 over his ties with Epstein, it came with the overwhelming support from Brits. He'd previously been removed as a senior royal in 2022.

According to a 2025Ipsos poll, 88% of Britons thought it was definitely or probably the right decision. Additionally, eight in 10 Britons had an unfavorable opinion of the prince at that time.

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"I don't think (Charles) is going to give him a pardon," Andrew Lownie, author of 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,' told USA TODAY.

"I think there would be a sort of riot in the streets if that happened, and that really would kill the monarchy."

Cases of previous royal pardons

Royal pardons are rarely used and typically only issued when a person is innocent of the offense and when a request has been made by someone with a vested interest, such as a family member, according to the United Kingdom'sgovernment website. Pardons can be issued without either requirement being met, as was the case with Alan Turing.

Turing, considered the father of computer science, was given a posthumous royal pardon by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2013. He was convicted in 1952 for "gross indecency" after being arrested following an affair with a 19-year-old man, which is no longer a crime in the United Kingdom.

After his conviction, Turing was chemically castrated.

The most recent high-profile recipient of a royal pardon was Steve Gallant, 47. The convicted murderer was on a day release from prison to attend a conference for rehabilitated prisoners when he confronted a terrorist attacker with a narwhal tusk on London Bridge. Two people died in the tragedy. Gallant's sentence began in 2005. He was released from prison in 2021. The queen reduced his sentence by 10 months.

Allegations against Prince Andrew, Epstein ties

Since last autumn, Mountbatten-Windsor has appeared in several pages and images released by the U.S. government in relation to Epstein. The latest cache of documents included a photo of the former prince kneeling on all fours over an unidentified woman lying on the ground.

The former prince came under intense scrutiny over his ties with the disgraced financier following a BBC interview in 2019. In the interview, he said he met Epstein in 1991 through his partner Ghislaine Maxwell, but denied ever coming into contact with the late Virginia Giuffre.

One of the Epstein victims, Giuffre, said she was 17 years old when she was allegedly trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sexual relations with the then-prince. The encounters took place between 2001 and 2002, she said.

The former prince gave the remarks despite the existence of a photograph with him and Giuffre in Maxwell's London home in 2001.

Mountbatten-Windsor raised issues with the photograph's authenticity, saying it might not be him in the picture because he was wearing his "traveling clothes" and suggested his left hand may have been photoshopped onto Giuffre's waist.

Giuffre filed a sex abuse lawsuit against Mountbatten-Windsor in 2021. The former prince settled the suit the following year but continued to deny the allegations against him.

Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard, Wendy Naugle

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Could King Charles III pardon his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor?

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February 20, 2026

Can King Charles III pardon his brother Andrew? Why it's unlikely.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 19, his 66th birthd...

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Project Runway Star Tim Gunn Gets Honest About Not Being Asked Back

Project Runwayis returning without one beloved mentor. Fashion mavenTim Gunnwill notreturn for Season 22, which is slated to premiere later this year. Instead, Season 4 winnerChristian Sirianowill serve as the mentor for the designers. Tim Gunn recently opened up about his exit from the runway in an episode ofChelsea Handler'spodcast, Dear Chelsea. He revealed he was not asked back for Season 22, calling the news "devastating." Here's what you need to know.

Tim Gunn has "no complaints" despite not returning to Project Runway

Fans were surprised when news brokethat Project Runwaywas returning without Tim. His name and the show have become synonymous, which may explain the uproar from fans after hearing word of his departure. He spoke candidly about the end of his Project Runway career in his conversation with Chelsea.

"I wasn't invited to return to the party," he shared. "My agent called the producers to say, 'We understandHeidi [Klum]signed up. We haven't heard a thing about Tim,' and they said, 'We don't want him.'"

Tim said the news initially devastated him, but he now looks back on the show with gratitude.

"I feel extremely lucky to have had 19 seasons of the show, 16 with Heidi, and I have a beautiful Emmy sitting on my kitchen counter," he said. "Yeah, so no complaints. I feel very, very, very lucky."

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Producers offered Tim a cameo on the upcoming season, but he declined.

"What do I do? Wave from a bus? As the designers are going into Mood [Fabrics]? Heidi comes to see me at the retirement home, and we play croquet?" he joked. "No, thank you. And as Heidi would say, you're either in or you're out. And I'm out."

Project Runwayis streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

TELL US – DO YOU WANT TIM BACK ON PROJECT RUNWAY?

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February 20, 2026

Project Runway Star Tim Gunn Gets Honest About Not Being Asked Back

Project Runwayis returning without one beloved mentor. Fashion mavenTim Gunnwill notreturn for Season 22, which is slated to premiere late...

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Eric Dane Quietly Recorded His 'Last Words' for His 2 Teenage Daughters Before His Death: 'You Are My Everything. Good Night'

Months before his death, Eric Dane recorded a final interview with Netflix as part of their series Famous Last Words

NEED TO KNOW

• In the 50-minute interview, Dane directly addressed his daughters Billie and Georgia

• The late actor shared four final thoughts to his daughters before his death on Thursday, Feb. 19

Months before his death,Eric Danerecorded one last interview – and it included his final words for his teenage daughters.

On Thursday, Feb. 19, theEuphoriastar died at 53, only 10 months after hewent public with his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Ahead of his death, Dane recorded his final interview with Netflix as part of their new seriesFamous Last Words. The interview was conducted in secret and only released after Dane's death.

At the end of the interview, Dane directly addressed his teenage daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 14, after he was left alone with the camera.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

"Billie and Georgia, these words are for you," the star began. "I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried. Overall, we had a blast, didn't we?"

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

JB Lacroix/WireImage

Dane, who shares his daughters with ex Rebecca Gayheart, went on to remember all the times they'd spent at the beach, saying that he will forever see them playing in the water. "Those days, pun intended, pun intended were heaven," he said.

The actor said he wanted to impart four final things he'd learned from his disease on his daughters, and asked them to listen to him.

"First, live now, right now in the present. It's hard, but I learned to do that," Dane said. "For years, I would wander off mentally, lost in my head for long chunks of time, wallowing in worry and self-pity, shame and doubt. I replayed decisions, second-guessed myself. 'I shouldn't have done this. I never should've done that.' No more."

Dane said that "out of pure survival," he was forced to stay in the present. He added that the past contains regrets and the future remains unknown, so he said that the only way to move forward is to live in the present and treasure it.

"Second, fall in love. Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well. But fall in love with something," Dane said. "Find your passion, your joy. Find the thing that makes you wanna get up in the morning."

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

The star told his daughters that he'd fallen in love with acting when he was his girls' age, and added that he still loved and looked forward to his work at the time. He told them to find their purpose and "really go for it."

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"Third, choose your friends wisely. Find your people and allow them to find you, and then give yourselves to them," the dad of two said. "The best of them will give back to you. No judgement. No conditions. No questions asked."

Dane said he was so thankful to his friends who had all "stepped up" for him in his illness. While he explained that he couldn't do any of the things he used to anymore — like going to the gym, driving around town and getting coffee — he was grateful to his friends for just showing up.

"Just show up. And love your friends with everything you have. Hang on to them. They will entertain you, guide you support you and some will save you," he said.

Lastly, Dane told his daughters to fight with all they had and never give up.

Rebecca Gayheart/Instagram

"Finally, fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity. When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight," Dane said. "Never give up. Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit."

Dane then told his girls that although they are different people, they'd both inherited his strength and resiliency.

"That's my superpower," Dane said of being resilient. "I bounce right up, and I keep coming back. I get up again and again and again. Mark says I'm like a cat. Except a cat has nine lives, and I'm on number 15, easily. So when something unexpected hits you, and it will, because that's life, fight and face it with honesty, integrity and grace, even if it feels or seems insurmountable."

"I hope I've demonstrated that you can face anything. You can face the end of your days. You can face hell with dignity. Fight girls, and hold your heads high," he continued, beginning to tear up. "Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words."

When he announced his ALS diagnosis with PEOPLE, Dane shared in a statement that he was "grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter."

While announcing his death, Dane's family said he died "following a courageous battle with ALS" and "spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world."

"Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight," they continued. "He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he's received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time."

Read the original article onPeople

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February 20, 2026

Eric Dane Quietly Recorded His 'Last Words' for His 2 Teenage Daughters Before His Death: 'You Are My Everything. Good Night'

Months before his death, Eric Dane recorded a final interview with Netflix as part of their series Famous Last Words ...

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Trump warns he's considering limited strikes as Iranian diplomat says proposed deal is imminent

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump warned on Friday thatlimited strikes against Iran are possibleeven as the country's top diplomat said Tehran expects to have a proposed deal ready in the next few days followingnuclear talks with the United States.

Switzerland Iran US Talks

In response to a reporter's question on whether the U.S. could take limited military action asthe countries negotiate, Trump said, "I guess I can say I am considering that." A few hours later, he told reporters that Iran "better negotiate a fair deal."

Earlier Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a TV interview that his country was planning to finalize a draft deal in "the next two to three days" to send to Washington.

"I don't think it takes long, perhaps, in a matter of a week or so, we can start real, serious negotiations on the text and come to a conclusion," Araghchi said on MSNOW's "Morning Joe" show.

The tensions between the longtime adversaries have ramped up as the Trump administration pushes for concessions from Iran and has built up the largestU.S. military presence in the Middle Eastin decades, with more warships and aircraft on the way.

On Friday, the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea after being sent by Trump from the Caribbean, according to images of the ship by maritime photographers posted to social media.

Both Iran and the U.S. have signaled that they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran's nuclear program fizzle out. "We are prepared for diplomacy, and we are prepared for negotiation as much as we are prepared for war," Araghchi said Friday.

Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the International Crisis Group, said Iran "would treat any kinetic action as an existential threat."

Vaez said he doesn't think Iran's leaders are bluffing when they say they would retaliate, while they likely believe they could maintain their hold on power despite any U.S. airstrikes.

What Iran and the US are negotiating

Trump said a day earlier that he believes 10 to 15 days is "enough time" for Iran to reach a deal followingrecent rounds of indirect negotiations, including this week in Geneva, that made little visible progress. But the talks have been deadlocked for years after Trump'sdecision in 2018to unilaterally withdraw the U.S. from Iran's 2015nuclear deal with world powers. Since then, Iran has refused to discuss wider U.S. and Israeli demands that it scale back its missile program and sever ties to armed groups.

Araghchi also said Friday that his American counterparts have not asked for zeroenrichment of uraniumas part of the latest round of talks, which is not what U.S. officials have said publicly.

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"What we are now talking about is how to make sure that Iran's nuclear program, including enrichment, is peaceful and will remain peaceful forever," he said.

He added that in return, Iran will implement some confidence-building measures in exchange for relief oneconomic sanctions.

In response to Araghchi's claim, a White House official said Trump has been clear that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them and that it cannot enrich uranium. The official wasn't authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Tehran has long insisted that any negotiations should only focus on its nuclear program and that it hasn't been enriching uranium since U.S. and Israelistrikes last June on Iranian nuclear sites. Trump said at the time that the strikes had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear sites, but the exact damage is unknown asTehran has barred international inspectors.

Although Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, the U.S. and others suspect it is aimed at eventually developing weapons.

What Congress has to say

Trump's comments have faced pushback from some lawmakers who say the president should get Congress' approval before any strike.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said Friday that he has filed a war powers resolution that would require that step. Though it has no chance of becoming law — in part because Trump himself would have to sign it — some bipartisan consensus has arisen recently among senators who forced votes on previous resolutions on military action in Venezuela.

None of those resolutions passed, but they were successful in showing how lawmakers are troubled by some of Trump's aggressive foreign policy maneuvers.

"If some of my colleagues support war, then they should have the guts to vote for the war, and to be held accountable by their constituents, rather than hiding under their desks," Kaine said in a statement.

Amiri reported from New York. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Ben Finley, Stephen Groves and Konstantin Toropin in Washington and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.

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February 20, 2026

Trump warns he's considering limited strikes as Iranian diplomat says proposed deal is imminent

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Winning tariff lawyer says Trump's case 'fundamentally un-American'

WASHINGTON – The lawyer who won asweeping new Supreme Court rulingblocking PresidentDonald Trump's tariff action said Feb. 20 he always believed the court would ultimately side with him – even as he acknowledged the steep odds ofchallenging presidential power."It was a complete victory for us," Neal Katyal told USA TODAY shortly after the decision. "We got everything we asked for, and I thought the Supreme Court stood up for our Constitution."

"We always believed this was gravely illegal," added Katyal, "and it was very gratifying to see six members of the Supreme Court agree with us."The ruling marked a rare and consequential rebuke of presidential authority in the trade arena, where courts have historically given the executive branch wide latitude, said Katyal, a 55-year-old Georgetown University law professor and former acting Solicitor General in the Obama administration.

President Donald Trump slammed the Supreme Court in a press conference on Feb. 20, 2026, after the conservative court blocked sweeping tariffs in a 6–3 decision, dealing a major blow to the president's economic agenda and limiting executive power.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Supreme Court limits tariff power, drawing fierce backlash from Trump

President Donald Trump slammed theSupreme Courtin a press conference on Feb. 20, 2026, after the conservative court blocked sweeping tariffs in a 6–3 decision, dealing a major blow to the president's economic agenda and limiting executive power.

That pushback, which included support from two Trump-appointed conservative judges, made the victory especially significant.

"Whenever you're challenging major presidential action, the court is really circumspect about saying no to a president," he said. "It's always a tough hill."

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In several dozen previous cases, the Supreme Court mostly gave Trump short-term wins regarding presidential authority in cases brought as part of the high court's emergency docket, which allowed Trump policies to go into effect temporarily until lower courts ruled on them.

Butthe tariffs casewas a regular case before the Supreme Court, which had ordered full briefings and expedited arguments.

As such, Katyal said, it was the first time the justices had the first real opportunity to say yes – or no – to Trump, who aggressively lobbied the court to side with him in recent months.

Still, Katyal said he never doubted the legal foundation of the challenge."I'd always known in my heart of hearts, this was blatantly illegal," he said, adding that his team believed it had "the best originalist understanding from the point of view of our founders."He also sharply criticized the underlying policy, calling Trump's actions "really fundamentally un-American."The win carries particular weight given Katyal's extensive Supreme Court experience. He said the case was his 53rd argument before the High Court, part of a career tally that now stands at 54.Yet even for a veteranSCOTUSwarrior, this one stood apart for the decisive message the justices sent about limits of presidential power."I felt like this decision was incredibly important at this moment in time," Katyal said, "to stand up for the rule of law and our separation of powers."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Tariff lawyer Neal Katyal knew he had SCOTUS case to beat Trump

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February 20, 2026

Winning tariff lawyer says Trump's case 'fundamentally un-American'

WASHINGTON – The lawyer who won asweeping new Supreme Court rulingblocking PresidentDonald Trump's tariff action sai...

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