The Monarch Faces Heckling Concerning His Brother's Epstein Links
In the course of a visit to a cathedral in Staffordshire on the start of the week, King Charles was heckled by a man who questioned him about Prince Andrew's relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The individual asked how long the monarch had been known about his brother's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and also raised doubts about whether he had instructed the authorities to "conceal" for Andrew.
Amid the heckling, there were crowds of fans and applause for the monarch, who was visiting Staffordshire for an event.
The Duke of York's links with Epstein have been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. The royal, who relinquished his royal duties earlier this month, has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
"How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein? Have you asked the police to cover up for Andrew?"
The King did not respond but carried on greeting supporters, some of whom shouted "Long live the King". One supporter can be overheard requesting him for a hug.
Another woman outside the cathedral was also heard telling the protester to "go away" and to "be quiet".
Scandal Reignited by Posthumous Publication
The controversy over the Duke of York's connections to Jeffrey Epstein has been brought back into focus by sexual abuse allegations repeated in Ms. Giuffre's posthumously-published memoir.
In the publication, the accuser alleges she had sex with the royal on three separate occasions, including one instance with Epstein and "several other minors"
Prince Andrew, who reached a out-of-court agreement with Ms Giuffre in 2022, has consistently denied any misconduct. In a previous interview, he told a news program he did not remember meeting her "ever", and that they "never had any sort of sexual contact."
Fresh Questions Over Lifestyle and Housing
But in recent times, fresh questions have been raised about how he is able to finance 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 heightened the scrutiny over his living arrangements - even though he made significant contributions up front, including for improvements.
The political party said he should be summoned before MPs to give testimony about his lease of his residence.
But last Thursday, the government declined to give MPs time to discuss the prince's titles or his home, despite increasing calls for scrutiny.
Buckingham Palace has not issued a statement on whether the Duke of York might relocate of his home - or where he might go.
Related Topics
- Prince Andrew
- British Monarchy
- The Monarch