Trump says king would’ve ‘helped us with Iran,’ has dig at U.K. PM
When Charles’ state visit was officially announced in March, a Buckingham Palace official told NBC News that the royals would not meet Jeffrey Epstein survivors following legal advice that it could risk prejudicing police investigations and any future legal action.
That includes the probe into the king’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, over accusations of misconduct in public office in connection with allegations of sharing confidential trade documents with Epstein. Andrew also faced allegations of sexual abuse from Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre and settled the case for an undisclosed amount in 2022 without admitting wrongdoing.
The former prince, who was stripped of his title over the allegations, has denied all the accusations against him and has said he regretted his friendship with Epstein, which continued after the late financier was convicted for soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008. In addition, multiple U.K. police forces have said they are assessing Epstein-related allegations against Andrew.
“We fully understand and appreciate the survivors’ and their advocates’ position, but can only reiterate that anything arising from such meeting that could potentially impact on ongoing police inquiries and assessments, and any potential legal action that could result from that, would be to the detriment of the survivors themselves in their pursuit of justice,” a palace spokesperson said ahead of the visit.
“His Majesty’s constitutional position, not least with regards to the judicial process, is such that even though the risk may be small that a meeting or any public comments could impact on the proper course of the law, that is a risk that we simply can’t take, for the best interest of the survivors themselves.”
In a statement in October, when Andrew was stripped of his royal titles, the king and queen said their “thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
