King Charles III and Queen Camilla will not meet survivors of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during the upcoming state visit to the United States, a Buckingham Palace source has confirmed, even as further details of the trip were released.
However, the Queen is expected to meet representatives of organisations campaigning against domestic abuse and violence against women at some of the engagements scheduled between 27 and 30 April.
The visit comes amid what officials describe as a delicate diplomatic backdrop, including strained UK–US relations and wider geopolitical tensions such as the Iran war. Palace aides say the King will be navigating “choppy diplomatic waters” but could play a stabilising role in the relationship.
A Palace source said the monarch’s role remains central to long-term ties between both countries, noting that the partnership has “survived many presidencies and of course many reigns”.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman also stressed the value of the relationship despite disagreements, saying, “So yes, we are close allies, we do disagree on things, but that doesn’t detract from the value that both sides get from this relationship and have done over many decades,” she said.
Full itinerary of the visit
The state visit will begin in Washington DC, where the King and Queen will attend a tea party, a garden party, and a ceremonial military review over two days.
The King will also hold a private meeting with President Donald Trump, who will host a state dinner at the White House.
A major highlight will be the King’s address to Congress, which is expected to be the diplomatic centrepiece of the trip.
In New York, engagements will include a visit to the 9/11 memorial where the royal couple will meet first responders, alongside a community project in Harlem.
Other events include a literacy programme marking the centenary of Winnie the Pooh, a business engagement, and a formal reception.
In Virginia, King Charles III, a long-time environmental advocate, will visit a national park, engage with Appalachian cultural traditions, meet Indigenous communities, and attend a community celebration marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
After the US leg, the King will travel to Bermuda before returning to the UK.
Epstein controversy and victim engagement calls
Following renewed scrutiny linked to the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal, there have been calls from US Congressman Ro Khanna, Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips, and relatives of the late Virginia Giuffre for the King and Queen to meet survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse network.
Buckingham Palace sources said this would not happen, arguing it could interfere with ongoing legal processes. One source explained, “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.”
Queen Camilla, who has long campaigned on domestic abuse issues, has recently made remarks widely interpreted as referring to survivors of exploitation.
At a reception at St James’s Palace, she said, “To every survivor of every kind of violence, many of whom have not been able to tell their stories or who have not been believed, please know that you are not alone,” she said.
Political backdrop and US relations
The visit will take place against a backdrop of shifting political dynamics, including tensions between President Trump and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over issues such as the Iran war and broader foreign policy disagreements.
President Trump has previously spoken warmly about the monarchy, posting on social media that he would “look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!”
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson emphasised the wider significance of the trip, saying, “The visit also recognises the challenges the United Kingdom, the United States, and our allies face across the world; this visit is a moment to reaffirm and renew our bilateral ties as we address those challenges together, in the UK’s national interest,” the spokesperson said.
Officials say the King’s address to Congress will only be the second time a British monarch has delivered such a speech, following Queen Elizabeth II’s historic address in 1991.
The trip is being framed as both a celebration of shared history and a reinforcement of strategic ties between the UK and US, even as diplomatic tensions simmer beneath the surface.
