Prince Harry; Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.Credit : Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty; Samir Hussein/WireImage

NEED TO KNOW

A source tells PEOPLE that Prince Harry has long been frustrated by comparisons to his uncle, Prince Andrew, a sentiment that predates Andrew’s arrest but has gained new relevance
Andrew was arrested Feb. 19 at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate on suspicion of misconduct in public office and has not been charged
The source says the arrest is “painful and embarrassing” for the royal family

Prince Harry has long felt frustrated by comparisons to his uncle, former Prince Andrew — a sentiment sources say predates Andrew’s arrest but now offers insight into how Harry has viewed the family’s internal fault lines for years.

“He was frustrated by the comparisons. It was never fair to lump them together,” an insider tells PEOPLE. “Harry served his country, did the job well and never engaged in misconduct — yet lost security and housing, while Andrew was protected for years.”

That contrast has taken on renewed relevance following Andrew’s arrest on Thursday, Feb. 19, which sources describe as “embarrassing” for the wider family.

“In this moment, it’s sad and embarrassing for the entire family,” the insider says. “It leaves a stain on everybody.”

Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested at Wood Farm, where he has been staying on King Charles’ Sandringham estate in Norfolk, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest stems from allegations that Andrew sent confidential information to Jeffrey Epstein during his time as a UK trade envoy. He has not been charged and continues to deny wrongdoing.

Police say the arrest allows officers to question Andrew under caution and to search properties for evidence as part of their investigation. A charging decision will be made by the Crown Prosecution Service once police inquiries are complete.

As for Harry, the insider says his reaction would be consistent with long-held beliefs rather than a response to the arrest itself.

“Harry believes in justice and accountability — that’s very much in line with his character,” the source says, noting Harry’s multiple court cases in the U.K. in recent years against the U.K. tabloid press.

Police officers stand guard near the entrance to Wood Farm, the home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Feb. 19, 2026.Peter Nicholls/Getty

Harry stepped away from royal life six years ago, at a time when the institution was still closing ranks around Andrew — continuing to provide him with police protection, allowing him to remain at Royal Lodge and maintaining public silence amid mounting scrutiny. By contrast, Harry and Meghan Markle were stripped of publicly funded security after stepping back as senior royals in 2020, a decision Harry has said left his family vulnerable and one he has continued to challenge through the courts.

The disparity was one Harry addressed directly in his 2023 memoir, Spare. In the book, he recalls a conversation with Meghan about whether their palace security might be withdrawn, writing that he never imagined it would happen — particularly given that Andrew retained his security detail even after becoming embroiled in what Harry described as a “shameful scandal” related to Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Harry noted, no one suggested Andrew should lose his protection, while he and Meghan ultimately did.

Harry later raised similar concerns in a BBC interview following his failed judicial review over security last year, arguing that the decision reflected what he described as an “establishment stitch-up.”

Sources say Harry’s willingness to speak candidly at a time when much of the institution remained silent came at a cost. He was widely criticized and, in some cases, conflated with Andrew as a shared royal liability — a comparison that crystallized in headlines and nicknames such as the “Dukes of Hazzard.”

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex had no comment when reached by PEOPLE.

So far, King Charles is the only senior royal to issue a statement, saying authorities have his “full and wholehearted support and co-operation.” Prince William and Kate Middleton are not expected to release a separate statement, but PEOPLE understands they support the King’s position.

Then-Prince Andrew and Prince Harry attend the National Service of Thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 10, 2016.WPA Pool/Getty

Andrew was first stripped of his military titles and patronages in 2022, after he attempted to have a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre dismissed. The following month, he settled with Giuffre out of court for an undisclosed sum. She died by suicide on April 24, 2025.

Legal experts note that Andrew’s arrest does not mean he will necessarily face charges.

“An arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office is not a one-way ticket to prison,” attorney George Kampanella, partner and head of business crime at Taylor Rose, tells PEOPLE. “It is the start of a process.”

The King’s brother will only appear in court if he is charged — a decision that will be made by Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after the police have completed their investigations.