Royal experts have reacted in shock after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was today arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The former Prince was taken into custody on his 66th birthday on Thursday following allegations that he shared confidential material with [child predator] financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as trade envoy.
A number of unmarked police cars attended Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, with plain-clothed officers appearing to gather outside Andrew's home.
Thames Valley Police later confirmed they had taken the ex-Duke into custody at around 8am. Searches are currently being carried out at Wood Farm and his former residence of Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.
Royal Experts Weigh In
Royal correspondent Richard Palmer declared it 'the biggest scandal in royal history', while others said it was King's 'worst nightmare' and has left the Royal Family in 'unchartered waters'.
Mr Palmer told GB News: 'I'm trying to think of a bigger scandal. I mean you can look back at Diana's death and the abdication and say, perhaps, they were bigger stories.
'But this is, I think, the biggest Scandal in royal history on the face of it.
'I don't think it'll be the end [of the monarchy]. The monarchy has lasted more than a thousand years, and it's proved able to adapt to survive.
'I think it will adapt to the conditions of the 21st century, but reform is needed and this case has brought it all to a head.'
Meanwhile, Alastair Bruce later told the broadcaster that Andrew's arrest is the 'worst possible thing for the crown'.
'This is about as critical as the institution could have to face, and I think for the King, it must be awful to face this,' he added.
Royal Correspondent Says Arrest Major Shock for Royal Family and Public
'Not least because he is Sovereign, and he is at the head of the national story, head of the Judiciary, he is the person in whose name ultimately police constables do their work. And now, his brother is a subject of that judicial process.
'I think it must be ghastly for the King, and for all members, the royal family to watch this take place.
'In terms of where this places the King and the crown, it couldn't really be more serious.'
Elsewhere on Sky News, The Telegraph's royal correspondent India McTaggart said the arrest will be a 'seismic shock' both for the Royal Family and the public.
'I think this has still come as an enormous shock to everybody. I mean, particularly on his 66th birthday. We never expected it would come to this point.
'I think we have seen public anger spilling out onto the King's Royal engagements in recent weeks, with him being heckled about Andrew's association and what the royal family knew about the eighth in line to the throne and his association with the [sexual] offender.
'There will continue to be public anger about this. I think it is a good thing obviously that it has come to this point. Because it needs to be done by the book and Andrew needs to face justice in the way that any other person would.
'The King has to be seen to not be showing favor to his younger brother, as the late Queen potentially did by paying off that settlement for Virginia Giuffre and sort of supporting him.
'But I think it's maybe going to damage trust in the monarchy and they need to be very careful going forward about how they handle this, about what they say.
'Now, Andrew has to face the music and really come clean about exactly what his association was.'
Bronte Coy also told the broadcaster: 'You get the sense that at least we are now on the pathway to accountability.
'People want to see that there isn't one set of rules for a set of people and other people have to abide by a different one.
'And right now, that's what there is a sense of. This is being investigated. It's clearly been taken extremely seriously by a number of police forces across England, and now we're seeing that unfold.'
Commentator Says Royals in Uncharted Waters
'What we now know, in this modern era, and particularly during the King's reign, is that the past mantra of 'never complain, never explain', which we know the Royals stuck to so closely, would not have flown now.
'Particularly in light of the severity of the allegations that are surrounding a senior member of the royal family who is still eighth in line to the throne.
'So, he is breaking out from that past mold.'
Asked about impact Andrew's arrest may have internationally, Ms Coy added: 'We're seeing the royal family in completely uncharted waters.
'We've not seen anything like this from them in the modern era and I think this is a critical time for them.
'With the severity of the allegations, the royal family must continue to meet the moment with that.
'Because there will be such a low tolerance for any perception of entitlement or different rules being applied because he's a member of the royal family. That's something that won't be tolerated by the public.
'It is certainly a crisis; it is certainly a risky moment; but I do think they can survive it.'
Former BBC Broadcaster Thinks Royal Family Will Come Out Stronger
While many experts voiced concern over Andrew's arrest, former BBC broadcaster and long-time friend of the King Jonathan Dimbleby said he believed the Royal family will 'emerge stronger' as a result.
Mr Dimbleby described Mr Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest to BBC Radio 4's World at One programme as a 'crisis' for the Royal family but that it 'doesn't damage the monarchy.'
'I think we have to separate the notion of a family from the institution of the monarch,' he said.
'It's a personal crisis for the individuals involved...it's grievous for them to have to endure the institution being put under such incredible scrutiny.'
'At the same time, I think that what will happen when we look at it more coolly and in perspective, we will see that the institution has emerged from this not weaker...but arguably stronger, because it's working.'
'It demonstrates actually the strength of the Constitution in this respect that the police have acted without fear or favour. They've treated him... as if he were any other citizen.'
'I do not see that because one member of the royal family has been arrested, maybe we don't know, maybe charged with a very serious offence, that that brings the institution into disrespect.'