Prince William admits he’s ‘not in a calm state’ at BAFTAs after uncle Andrew arrest

It’s been a turbulent time for the royal family

Prince William and Princess Kate stepped out for a glittering night at the BAFTAs on Sunday, but it was hard to ignore the storm clouds hanging over the royal family.

The high-profile appearance came just days after William’s uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on February 19. Andrew was detained in Sandringham on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Although, the precise details of the allegations remain unknown. Hours later, police released the 66-year-old under investigation.

In their first joint outing since the arrest, the Prince and Princess of Wales returned to the spotlight at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Here, William made a surprisingly candid admission.

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Princess Catherine and Prince William attended the BAFTAs on Sunday evening (Credit: Cover Images)

Prince William ‘not in a calm state’ at BAFTAs

As President of BAFTA, the Prince of Wales walked the red carpet alongside Princess Catherine before taking his seat inside the ceremony.

Ahead of the awards, William, 43, and Catherine, 44, met representatives from BAFTA and the Southbank Centre, chatting warmly despite the tense backdrop.

During one conversation, William revealed he had not yet watched the 2025 film Hamnet. The movie went on to win big on the night.

I need to be in quite a calm state and I’m not at the moment.

Hamnet tells the story of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes Hathaway, as they cope with the devastating loss of their young son.

Explaining why he had not seen it yet, William said: “I need to be in quite a calm state and I’m not at the moment. I will save it.”

The film picked up the BAFTA for outstanding British film, while its leading star Jessie Buckley won best actress for her portrayal of Agnes.

Janet Street-Porter seemed to disapprove of William’s confession (Credit: ITV)

William faces backlash over ‘calm state’ comments

Prince William’s comments have been discussed throughout the news today, including on TV shows.

On Monday’s edition of talk show Loose Women, panellist Janet Street-Porter took issue with the prince’s words.

Discussing William’s admission, Janet said: “Well, I thought it was a bit wet. Did we need to know? He’s at a very important industry event and he’s too upset to go and see a film.

“I’m sure it’s not very fun to have your uncle dragged through the headlines all the time but I don’t think we needed to know full stop.”
The Prince of Wales gave a speech at Sunday’s BAFTAs (Credit: BBC)

Prince William gives speech at BAFTAs

Later in the evening, William took to the stage to present the BAFTA Fellowship, the organisation’s highest honour, to Dame Donna Langley.

In his speech, he applauded Dame Donna, Chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment, for her “exceptional contribution to film”.

He described her as “a tireless advocate for British talent abroad, ensuring our storytellers, performers and creators are seen, supported and celebrated on the world stage”.

William continued: “She has championed films that have shaped culture, and is responsible for some of our most beloved franchises.

“And in amongst all of this, Dame Donna Langley has maintained a strong commitment to inclusion and mentorship, founding initiatives to widen access to careers in the screen arts and supporting women in leadership. This work is crucial.”

He then welcomed her onto the stage to accept the prestigious honour.
Police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor last week (Credit: Cover Images)

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrest

On February 19, police arrested the late Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, Andrew, in Sandringham on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

While the exact nature of the allegations has not been disclosed, attention has intensified over Andrew’s association with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It comes after the US Department of Justice released millions of files relating to the disgraced financier last month.

Following the release, Andrew faced allegations that he shared sensitive and confidential documents with Epstein during his time as a UK trade envoy.

He served in that role between 2001 and 2011. According to the files, Andrew allegedly forwarded official reports from trade visits to Epstein in 2010.

Under official guidance, trade envoys must maintain confidentiality over sensitive commercial or political information.

On Thursday evening, police released Andrew under investigation. This means he can be recalled for questioning at any time.

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. His arrest should not be interpreted as an indication of guilt and no charges have been brought.

King Charles speaks out

Shortly after news of the arrest emerged, King Charles issued a personal statement.

He said he had learned of the allegations against his brother with the “deepest concern”.

Read more: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s shocking arrest hour by hour from Charles’ statement to Trump’s reaction

Reiterating the royal family’s position, he added: “In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”

As the BAFTAs wrapped up and the cameras stopped flashing, the evening served as a reminder that while the royals continue with their public duties, serious questions remain in the background.