Arrest caps years of growing pressure on the former Prince Andrew, the brother of King Charles III and second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, over his yearslong friendship with Epstein.

The former Prince Andrew was arrested and held for hours by British police Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his links to Jeffrey Epstein, an extraordinary move in a country where authorities once sought to shield the royal family from embarrassment.

U.K. authorities on Thursday arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of "misconduct in public office." Police had previously said they were investigating whether the former prince sent confidential trade documents to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Investigators have the royal family's "wholehearted support," King Charles said after the arrest of his brother. Follow live.

The former prince has faced multiple allegations connected to his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was arrested Feb. 19.

Windsor, was arrested for suspected misconduct in public office after revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein files. King Charles III's younger brother was arrested on his 66th birthday.

British police took the former prince into custody on Thursday morning “on suspicion of misconduct in public office.” CNN’s Max Foster reports from London.

Former Prince Andrew's arrest followed the release of a massive trove of Epstein files by the U.S. Justice Department that included a series of potentially incriminating documents related to his activities as trade envoy.