Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, once dubbed the ‘Playboy Prince’, looked visibly shaken as he collapsed in the back seat of his Range Rover as his car left Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk, England, on Thursday.
The photo was the first out of Andrew, King Charles’ younger brother, since his release from police custody after a day of questioning over allegations he sent confidential government documents to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The image, taken by Reuters photographer Phil Noble, quickly went viral on social media.
Read also | Andrew released, remains under investigation for misconduct in public office
The story behind the former prince’s viral image
Andrew began the six-hour journey south to Norfolk early on Thursday.
After news of his arrest emerged, journalists knew the former prince had been arrested in Norfolk, the county seat of his royal estate Sandringham, but because he was being questioned by Thames Valley Police, which covers southeast England, there were potentially 20 or more police stations where he could have been detained, Reuters reported.
Acting on a tip, a Reuters photojournalist headed to the police station in the historic market town of Aylsham. Nothing much was happening, Phil said.
Several other media were in Aylsham, including Reuters video journalist Marissa Davison.
As the hours ticked by and darkness fell, the journalists were almost certain they were on the wrong station; after all, it was well over an hour’s drive from Andrew’s home.
Just as the two Reuters journalists decided to pack up and book hotel rooms, Phil, who had already hit the road, got a call from Marissa – Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s cars had arrived.
Phil reportedly ran back, just in time to see two vehicles leaving at high speed. There were two police officers in the car in front, so the photojournalist intuitively aimed the camera and flash at the car behind him.
Read also | What is “misconduct in public office”? Andrew arrested in Great Britain
Happy picture
Phil captured a total of six images – two showing the police, two blank and one out of focus. But there was one final “lucky” picture that captured Andrew in an unprecedented natural moment: for the first time in modern history, a senior royal was treated like a common criminal.
The image was widely used by media around the world.
“You can plan and use your experience and know roughly what you need to do, but it still has to line up,” Phil said. “When you do car shots, it’s more luck than judgment.
Phil didn’t really look at the former prince’s expression at first; he was just relieved it was him.
“It’s been a proper old school news day, a guy has been arrested that we can call and track him down,” he said.
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Why was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested?
The current police investigation, which is not linked to any allegations of sexual misconduct, involves suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to a statement released by Deputy Chief Constable Oliver Wright on Thursday.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the late Queen Elizabeth’s second son, has always denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and has previously said he regrets their friendship.
He has not spoken publicly since the release of the Epstein files, millions of pages of US government documents relating to the late wealthy financier, who was convicted of prostitution to a minor in 2008.