According to the insider, the king continues to believe in the principle of innocent until proven guilty, making the situation emotionally complex for him. At the same time, Prince William and Queen Camilla are reported to have supported a tougher approach, prioritising the reputation and stability of the monarchy.
This divide in opinion is said to have caused ongoing strain within the family, with one source describing the situation as a constant source of tension behind the scenes.
Renewed scrutiny linked to Epstein files
The reported family rift comes as Andrew faces renewed attention following the release of millions of documents connected to the US Department of Justice investigation into Epstein. Among the materials are photographs that appear to show Andrew kneeling beside an unidentified woman lying on the ground.
The images show Andrew touching the woman’s stomach while she remains fully clothed, and another photo shows him looking toward the camera. No information has been provided about when or where the images were taken, and their context remains unclear.