By Ghazali Ibrahim
A striking photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor formerly known as Prince Andrew leaving police custody went viral around the world this week, and Reuters has now explained how the image was captured.
The image, taken on February 19, 2026, shows the 66-year-old former royal slumped in the back seat of a vehicle as it left Aylsham police station in Norfolk, England, following his release under investigation over allegations of misconduct in public office.
Reuters senior photographer Phil Noble, based in Manchester, said in a video of how he got a tip early that Andrew might be held at a Norfolk police station after news broke of the arrest. Noble and his team drove about six hours south from Manchester to the area and spent much of the day waiting outside the station.
As night fell and with little happening, Noble and a colleague named Suzanne even considered leaving for a hotel. But moments later, they received word that vehicles had arrived at the station. Noble rushed back just in time to see two cars speed out of the compound.
He fired off six frames as they passed, but only one photo came out sharp, properly exposed, and powerful in its composition. That single frame showing Andrew with a stunned, dazed expression has been picked up by newsrooms globally.
Noble said taking photos of moving vehicles at night is always challenging, especially with tinted windows and low light. He tested his camera settings on other cars while waiting, which helped him be ready when the moment finally came. Still, he described the successful shot as “more luck than judgement” and credited patience and timing for the result.
Despite the photo’s simplicity, its impact has been profound. For the first time in modern British history, a senior member of the royal family was seen and photographed under such circumstances and treated like any other suspect leaving police custody.
Andrew has denied wrongdoing related to the ongoing investigation. His camp has not provided detailed public comment on the photograph itself.
