A royal commentator has revealed the “fine line” that King Charles and the palace will be “grappling with” amid the Andrew and Epstein scandal.
The king’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, faces intense scrutiny over his links to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It comes after the US Department of Justice released more than three million files relating to Epstein and his crimes in January.
Within these files, images appeared to show Andrew kneeling on all fours over an unidentified female lying on the ground. No context has been supplied for the images.
Emails allegedly between Andrew, 65, and Epstein have also emerged. Now, the former prince faces calls to appear for questioning over his ties to the disgraced financier.
Andrew and Epstein scandal
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Being named or pictured among the Epstein files is not an indication of wrongdoing.
Andrew has faced scrutiny over his links to Epstein for years.
In his BBC Newsnight interview in 2019, Andrew claimed he cut contact with the disgraced financier in late 2010 following Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
However, emails that emerged last year appeared to show Andrew allegedly in contact with Epstein in early 2011.
Allegations against Andrew
Andrew has also faced allegations of sexual assault. The late Virginia Giuffre alleged she was made to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew has always vehemently denied the allegations against him. The royal reached an out-of-court financial settlement with Ms Giuffre in 2022, which contained no admission of liability.
Since the recent release of Epstein files in January, a second woman has come forward alleging she was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew at Royal Lodge in 2010.
Representatives for Andrew were contacted for comment on these claims. He hasn’t addressed the allegations.
King Charles and palace’s response to Andrew scandal
Amid the ongoing scrutiny mounting against Andrew, Buckingham Palace issued a statement earlier this week.
It read: “The king has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct.
“While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect.
“As was previously stated, Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.”
Now, Andrew faces calls to appear before US Congress for questioning over his association with Epstein.
At the time of writing, the royal hasn’t responded to the calls.
‘Fine line’ Charles and palace ‘grappling with’ amid Epstein scandal
Royal author Duncan Larcombe has said the “magnitude of the allegations are terrifying for the royal family”.
He added to the Mirror: “These are not minor allegations, they are absolutely enormous.
So it’s a very very fine line, and that’s what the palace is grappling with.
“[The king’s] brother says he’s innocent of everything and has vehemently denied ever meeting Virginia Giuffre and being involved in that respect. So you’d think that the answer to the problem would be for the king to say to him, ‘Well, all you’ve got to do is testify, co-operate, draw a line under this.’
“On the flip side of that, if King Charles doesn’t do that, if he isn’t vociferous in his desire for his brother to try and talk through his innocence, it’s almost an indication that Charles thinks his brother is guilty. So it’s a very very fine line, and that’s what the palace is grappling with.”
Why Andrew lost his royal titles
Last October, the palace announced that King Charles had initiated a formal process to have Andrew’s remaining royal titles and honours removed.
Read more: Jeffrey Epstein survivor urges royal family to search Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s files and emails
But now, Andrew faces calls to testify in the US about his ties to Epstein.
UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, recently said that “anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do that”.
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