King Charles Faces Heckling Concerning Prince Andrew's Jeffrey Epstein Links
During a visit to Lichfield Cathedral on Monday, the King was confronted by a individual who questioned him about Prince Andrew's relationship with convicted sex offender Epstein.
The protester inquired how long the King had been aware about his sibling's association with Jeffrey Epstein, and also raised doubts about whether he had asked the authorities to "hide" for Andrew.
Despite the protest, there were large groups of fans and cheers for the King, who was visiting Staffordshire for an engagement.
Prince Andrew's associations with Epstein have been under close examination in the past few weeks. The royal, who gave up his titles earlier this month, has strongly denied any misconduct.
"How long have you been aware about Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein? Have you asked the police to conceal for him?"
The monarch remained silent but carried on greeting fans, some of whom chanted "God Save The King". One supporter can be heard requesting him for a embrace.
A female bystander outside the venue was also heard telling the protester to "go away" and to "shut up".
Scandal Revived by Posthumous Publication
The scandal over Prince Andrew's connections to Epstein has been brought back into focus by misconduct allegations repeated in Virginia Giuffre's posthumously-published book.
In the publication, the accuser alleges she had sex with the prince on multiple times, including one instance with Jeffrey Epstein and "eight other young girls"
Andrew, who agreed to a out-of-court agreement with the plaintiff in 2022, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In a previous interview, he told a news program he did not remember meeting her "at all", and that they "never had any sort of intimate relations."
Fresh Questions About Lifestyle and Housing
But recently, fresh questions have been raised about how he is able to finance his lifestyle despite not being a active member of the royal family.
The revelation that he has only ever paid a nominal fee on his Royal Lodge has heightened the examination over his housing situation - even though he made significant contributions up front, including for renovations.
The Liberal Democrats said he should be summoned front of members of parliament to give evidence about his lease of his residence.
But last week, the government declined to give MPs time to debate the royal's titles or his residence, despite increasing calls for scrutiny.
Buckingham Palace has not commented on whether the Duke of York might relocate of his current residence - or where he might reside.
Related Topics
- Prince Andrew
- UK Royal Family
- The Monarch