King Charles Faces Protest Regarding His Brother's Jeffrey Epstein Connections
In the course of a engagement to a cathedral in Staffordshire on Monday, King Charles was confronted by a man who questioned him about Prince Andrew's connections with convicted sex offender Epstein.
The man asked how long the monarch had been known about his brother's association with Jeffrey Epstein, and also raised doubts about whether he had instructed the police to "hide" for Prince Andrew.
Despite the heckling, there were crowds of well-wishers and cheers for the King, who was in the region for an event.
The Duke of York's connections with Jeffrey Epstein have been under renewed focus in recent weeks. The prince, who gave up his titles earlier this month, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
"How long have you been aware about Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein? Have you asked the authorities to conceal for Andrew?"
The King ignored the questions but carried on greeting fans, some of whom chanted "God Save The King". One supporter can be overheard asking him for a hug.
A female bystander outside the venue was also observed telling the heckler to "leave" and to "be quiet".
Scandal Reignited by Posthumous Publication
The scandal over Prince Andrew's connections to Epstein has been brought back into focus by misconduct allegations detailed in Virginia Giuffre's recently released book.
In the memoir, the accuser claims she had sex with the royal on three separate occasions, including one instance with Epstein and "several other minors"
Andrew, who reached a out-of-court agreement with the plaintiff in recent years, has repeatedly denied any misconduct. In a previous interview, he told a news program he did not recall meeting Ms Giuffre "ever", and that they "never had any sort of sexual contact."
Fresh Questions Over Finances and Housing
But in recent times, new inquiries have been asked about how he is able to finance his lifestyle despite not being a working royal.
The disclosure that he has only ever paid a token annual rent on his Windsor mansion has intensified the scrutiny over his housing situation - even though he made significant contributions up front, including for renovations.
The Liberal Democrats said he should be called in before MPs to give testimony about his lease of his residence.
But last Thursday, the government declined to give MPs time to debate the prince's status or his home, despite growing pressure for scrutiny.
The royal household has not issued a statement on whether Prince Andrew might relocate of his current residence - or where he might go.
Associated Issues
- Prince Andrew
- UK Royal Family
- The Monarch