King Charles Faces Protest Over Prince Andrew’s Epstein Ties During Cathedral Visit

King Charles III encountered a public protest on Monday when a man heckled him over Prince Andrew’s controversial ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The incident took place outside Lichfield Cathedral in northwest England, near Birmingham, as the monarch greeted crowds during a walkabout.

The protester shouted, “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?” and accused the King of covering up for his brother. He also questioned whether Members of Parliament should be allowed to debate the royal family in the House of Commons. Despite the confrontation, King Charles remained composed, continuing to engage with other well-wishers without responding to the outburst.

The protest follows renewed public scrutiny of Prince Andrew, 65, who recently agreed to stop using his title, the Duke of York, amid growing controversy surrounding his relationship with Epstein. The fallout intensified after revelations from the posthumous memoir of Virginia Giuffre — the woman who accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager. The memoir’s publication has reignited debate over what the royal family may have known about the allegations.

Prince Andrew has consistently denied Giuffre’s claims. In 2022, he reached an undisclosed financial settlement in a U.S. civil lawsuit brought by her. Giuffre, who tragically died by suicide in April, had long been a central figure in the Epstein scandal.

Adding to the tension, British police are reportedly examining claims that Andrew once instructed a police officer to seek damaging information about Giuffre in 2011. The renewed attention underscores the lasting shadow cast by the Epstein affair and its ongoing impact on the British royal family’s reputation.