The renewed crisis follows the United States Department of Justice releasing millions of pages of documents linked to Epstein at the end of January. While many public figures are named or referenced in the files, authorities have repeatedly stated that inclusion does not in itself imply criminal wrongdoing.
Buckingham Palace added that the King and Queen’s thoughts remain firmly with victims of abuse, emphasising that this position has not changed.
Pressure mounts on the monarchy
The Prince and Princess of Wales also addressed the issue publicly for the first time, saying they were deeply concerned by the continuing revelations and that their focus remains on victims. Sources say William and Kate supported the King’s earlier decision to strip Andrew of his royal titles and HRH status.
Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt has argued that the response so far does not go far enough. He has urged King Charles to publicly back calls for Andrew to testify before the United States Congress and to support removing him from the line of succession.