King Charles and Queen Camilla are preparing for a state visit to Washington amid mounting pressure. Meanwhile, public calls urge the King Charles to meet survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking. The royal couple has not scheduled such meetings during the trip.
They will meet US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania at a sensitive time for UK-US relations. However, the Epstein scandal and the involvement of the King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, cast a shadow over the visit.
Buckingham Palace emphasizes that the King Charles’ constitutional role limits his interactions in cases involving ongoing police inquiries. Authorities believe a meeting with victims could legally compromise potential investigations into Mountbatten-Windsor. As a result, officials say the meeting cannot occur without risking prejudice to legal proceedings.
Despite these concerns, US Congressman Ro Khanna intends to pursue the meeting. He stated that he will continue to request access through the British ambassador. Khanna argued that engaging with survivors would improve the royal family’s credibility and begin to address decades of silence.
Experts warn the King Charles may face questions from US media or interruptions during congressional sessions. Andrew Gawthorpe, a foreign policy fellow, noted significant anger among lawmakers regarding the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein case. Similarly, Professor Andrew Moran suggested that both the King and US President would prefer to keep the issue off the agenda.
Lawyers representing survivors, including Gloria Allred, expressed confusion over the refusal to meet. She called the decision “incomprehensible,” pointing out the importance of hearing victims’ accounts directly. Constitutional lecturer Craig Prescott noted the King previously met survivors of public tragedies, like the Southport stabbings, even before trials concluded.
Nevertheless, the Epstein case remains personally delicate. Mountbatten-Windsor denies any wrongdoing, complicating potential meetings. Advocates for survivors stress that engagement could lead to decisive action against co-conspirators. The family of Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, urged the King Charles to meet survivors to acknowledge their experiences.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer focused on celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence rather than pressing the King for meetings. Meanwhile, legal authorities continue to investigate Mountbatten-Windsor and former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment further on the matter.
The King Charles faces a delicate balance between constitutional duties, legal caution, and growing public expectation. As the state visit approaches, attention will remain on whether he engages with Epstein’s survivors and how the royal family navigates this sensitive issue.
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