King Charles Faces Heckling Concerning His Brother's Jeffrey Epstein Ties
In the course of a engagement to a cathedral in Staffordshire on Monday, King Charles was shouted at by a man who asked him about Prince Andrew's links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The individual demanded to know how long the King had been known about his brother's relationship with Epstein, and also raised doubts about whether he had instructed the authorities to "conceal" for Prince Andrew.
Amid the protest, there were crowds of supporters and cheers for the King, who was in the region for an event.
The Duke of York's associations with Jeffrey Epstein have been under intense scrutiny in the past few weeks. The prince, who relinquished his titles earlier this month, has categorically denied any misconduct.
"For how long have you been aware about Andrew and Epstein? Did you request the authorities to cover up for Andrew?"
The monarch did not respond but continued greeting fans, some of whom shouted "Long live the King". One fan can be heard requesting him for a hug.
A female bystander outside the cathedral was also heard telling the heckler to "leave" and to "shut up".
Controversy Reignited by Posthumous Publication
The controversy over the Duke of York's links to Epstein has been brought back into focus by sexual abuse claims detailed in Virginia Giuffre's recently released book.
In the publication, the accuser says she had sexual encounters with the prince on three separate occasions, including one instance with Jeffrey Epstein and "several other minors"
Prince Andrew, who reached a financial settlement with the plaintiff in 2022, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. In 2019, he told a news program he did not remember meeting Ms Giuffre "at all", and that they "never had any sort of intimate relations."
New Inquiries Over Finances and Housing
But in recent times, fresh questions have been asked about how he is able to fund his way of life despite not being a active member of the royal family.
The disclosure that he has only ever paid a nominal fee on his Windsor mansion has intensified the scrutiny over his living arrangements - even though he made large payments up front, including for improvements.
The Liberal Democrats said he should be called in before members of parliament to give testimony about his lease of his lodge.
But last week, the government declined to give parliamentarians time to discuss the royal's status or his home, despite increasing calls for scrutiny.
Buckingham Palace has not issued a statement on whether Prince Andrew might move out of his home - or where he might reside.
Related Topics
- Prince Andrew
- British Monarchy
- The Monarch