King Charles and Queen Camilla are preparing for a high-profile state visit to the United States later this month, but it is believed their official itinerary will not include a meeting with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision to exclude such a meeting from the schedule comes as the monarchy continues to navigate the deeply sensitive optics of the royal family’s historical ties to the disgraced financier, most notably through the King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Earlier this month, the King had been urged to meet with the survivors during his upcoming state visit to the US by the family of Virginia Giuffre.
HELLO! understands that this is due to the ongoing police investigations into matters related to Epstein, after Charles’s brother Andrew and Lord Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US, were arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections with the late sex offender. They have since been released under investigation.
The historic visit, the King’s first visit to the US as monarch, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US. Charles and Camilla will mark the milestone at a “block party”.
The royal couple, who will begin their visit with a private tea hosted by the President and First Lady, will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that brought down New York’s Twin Towers.
There have been repeated calls by US Congressman Ro Khanna and the family of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre for a meeting with the King and Queen, and the Mail on Sunday reported that the Queen had been approached by victims’ rights groups.
© Getty ImagesThe legal implications of Charles and Camilla coming into contact with any survivors of paedophile financier Epstein, and the King’s constitutional position, make a meeting impossible while there are ongoing UK police investigations into matters related to Epstein.
The royal family has been dealing with the issue of Andrew for years, disgraced by his association with Epstein and recently arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, over his connection with the paedophile, and released under investigation.
A source told HELLO!: “There is no deviation from the guidance that we’ve previously issued, that it will not be possible during this state visit for a meeting to take place of the kind that has been suggested.
“We fully understand and appreciate the survivors’ position, but can only reiterate that our position is clear that anything 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.
“You’ll be aware of his majesty’s clear constitutional position, not least with regards to the judicial process, and even though the risk may be small that a meeting or any public comments could impact on those inquiries, or the proper course of the law, that is a risk that we simply can’t take, for the best interest for the survivors themselves.”
The Queen has been a long-term supporter of abused women and sexual violence survivors and during the state visit will engage with organisations advocating for survivors of domestic abuse.
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