British monarch, King Charles III, faced an unexpected confrontation on Monday when a protester heckled him about Prince Andrew’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a visit to Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire.
The man shouted questions at the monarch, demanding to know how long he had been aware of his brother’s connection to Epstein and whether he had “asked the police to cover up for Andrew.”
While the King chose not to respond, the outburst drew immediate backlash from onlookers.
Supporters of the monarch quickly drowned out the protest with cheers of “three cheers for the King,” while one woman was heard telling the man to “shut up.”
Videos from the scene showed the protester persisting, “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein? Have you asked the police to cover up for Andrew? Should MPs be allowed to debate the royals in the House of Commons?”
King Charles continued greeting the crowd undeterred, shaking hands and exchanging smiles with well-wishers, some of whom called out “God Save The King.” At one point, a fan even asked him for a hug. Others near the cathedral appeared visibly irritated by the disruption, with one woman telling the protester to “go away and leave him alone.”
Prince Andrew’s relationship with Epstein has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks, following revelations in Virginia Giuffre’s posthumously published memoir.
In it, Giuffre claims she had sex with the Duke of York on three occasions, including once with Epstein and “eight other young girls.”
Andrew, who gave up his royal titles earlier this month, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He previously told BBC Newsnight in 2019 that he did not remember ever meeting Giuffre and insisted they “never had any sort of sexual contact.”
Questions have also resurfaced about the prince’s personal finances, with reports highlighting his minimal annual rent on Royal Lodge, his mansion in Windsor.
Despite paying substantial sums upfront for renovations, the arrangement has fueled criticism of his privileged lifestyle.
The Liberal Democrats have since urged that Andrew be summoned to appear before MPs to explain the terms of his lease.
However, the government last week declined to allocate parliamentary time to debate the matter or his titles, despite growing public pressure.
Buckingham Palace has so far remained silent on whether the Duke of York could be asked to vacate his home, or where he might move next.
