King Charles Confronts Heckling Over Prince Andrew's Jeffrey Epstein Connections
In the course of a engagement to Lichfield Cathedral on Monday, the King was confronted by a man who asked him about his brother's connections with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The protester asked how long the monarch had been known about his brother's association with Epstein, and also questioned whether he had asked the authorities to "cover up" for Andrew.
Despite the protest, there were large groups of fans and cheers for the monarch, who was visiting the region for an event.
Prince Andrew's connections with Epstein have been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. The royal, who gave up his royal duties earlier this month, has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
"For how long have you been aware about Andrew and Epstein? Did you request the police to conceal for him?"
The King did not respond but carried on meeting supporters, some of whom shouted "God Save The King". One supporter can be heard asking him for a hug.
Another woman outside the cathedral was also observed telling the protester to "go away" and to "be quiet".
Scandal Revived by Memoir
The controversy over the Duke of York's connections to Jeffrey Epstein has been reignited by misconduct claims repeated in Ms. Giuffre's posthumously-published book.
In the memoir, the accuser claims she had sexual encounters with the royal on three separate occasions, including once with Jeffrey Epstein and "eight other young girls"
Prince Andrew, who agreed to a out-of-court agreement with Ms Giuffre in recent years, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In a previous interview, he told a news program he did not recall meeting her "ever", and that they "never had any sort of intimate relations."
New Inquiries About Finances and Housing
But recently, fresh questions have been asked 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 token annual rent 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 called in before members of parliament to give testimony about his lease of his residence.
But last Thursday, the government declined to give parliamentarians time to discuss the royal's titles or his residence, despite growing pressure for investigation.
Buckingham Palace has not commented on whether the Duke of York might move out of his current residence - or where he might reside.
Related Topics
- The Duke of York
- British Monarchy
- The Monarch