Epstein survivors' calls for royal meet harder to ignore as US visit approaches

As King Charles and Queen Camilla prepare for their upcoming state visit to the United States later this month, calls are intensifying for them to meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, has left many victims seeking recognition and answers, especially concerning allegations linked to the King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Lisa Phillips, one of the survivors from the US, shared with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that they have already reached out to the King through letters, requesting a meeting during the visit.

These demands have been echoed by US Congressman Ro Khanna and the family of the late Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser. Giuffre’s family has urged the royal couple to engage directly with survivors, particularly given the unresolved questions around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s alleged involvement. The King’s brother has consistently denied any misconduct despite calls for him to testify before a congressional inquiry. Meanwhile, the state visit itself is anticipated to be fraught with challenges, not least because it coincides with ongoing global tensions such as the Iran war and a fragile ceasefire.

The planned four-day trip from April 27 to 30, which includes meetings with President Donald Trump, was always expected to attract scrutiny. King Charles faces the significant responsibility of giving a major speech to the US Congress, with hopes that his participation will help mend the historically close but recently strained UK-US relations. However, the visit is increasingly overshadowed by the Epstein scandal, placing the royal visitors under pressure to address difficult questions from survivors seeking acknowledgment and justice.

Lisa Phillips suggested there might be a better chance of Queen Camilla meeting with Epstein survivors than the King himself, highlighting the Queen’s longstanding commitment to campaigning against domestic abuse and violence toward women. Queen Camilla has publicly spoken out to support survivors of various forms of violence, asking them to know they are not alone. Despite Buckingham Palace’s statement expressing sympathy for victims of abuse, no official plans have surfaced to include Epstein or his survivors in the state visit itinerary. Concerns persist that such engagement could affect ongoing legal proceedings involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Congressman Khanna, however, believes a meeting might be possible without delving into specific details regarding the King’s brother. As the anniversary of Virginia Giuffre’s death approaches shortly before the visit, the intersection of these events underscores the sensitive nature of the state trip and the difficult conversations surrounding it

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