Queen Camilla Cancels Epstein Victims Meeting Amid Andrew Investigation Fears
Queen Camilla was "never" going to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein during her upcoming United States visit due to concerns about jeopardising the ongoing police investigation into Prince Andrew, according to The Daily Mail's Royal Editor Rebecca English. Both Queen Camilla and King Charles are reportedly wary of any such meetings while the investigation into the former Duke of York's alleged misconduct in public office remains active.
Palace Confidential Discussion Reveals Royal Concerns
During the latest episode of the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential podcast, Rebecca English sat down with host Jo Elvin and Diary Editor Richard Eden to discuss how the Epstein scandal has impacted the broader monarchy. Following reports that Camilla, 78, might secretly meet some Epstein victims in the next two weeks, Elvin questioned English about the apparent unlikelihood of such a meeting.
English responded: "Well it was never going to happen. Not that they don't want it to happen, they don't feel it can happen on this trip because obviously there is a live ongoing police investigation in this country which does involve the King's brother. They really don't want to do anything that could in any way jeopardise it."
Historical Precedent and Risk Assessment
Explaining why any comment by Their Majesties could prove detrimental, English noted that the late Queen Elizabeth II once made a remark about a live court case involving former royal butler Paul Burrell, which was subsequently withdrawn at the last minute. "Even if all sorts of insurances were given that Andrew wouldn't be discussed, you can't really control what people say after the meeting and they just don't want to take the risk," English added.
While Queen Camilla has been a longstanding campaigner against domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, and while a meeting with Epstein's victims appears currently off the cards, English clarified that "the indication is that they will try to meet with Epstein survivors at some point."
US Visit and Advocacy Engagements
Due to Camilla's ongoing pledge to raise awareness for Violence Against Women, she will be meeting with domestic abuse and sexual abuse survivors at two or three engagements during her US visit from April 27 to 30. This comes after Labour peer Baroness Harman, the UK's special envoy for women and girls, declared that the Queen should meet with Epstein victims to demonstrate she is "on their side."
Refusing to do so "wouldn't sit with what she does all the time, and what she's been doing, since long before she became Queen," Harman told LBC radio. Ex-model Lisa Phillips, an Epstein victim and prominent campaigner, previously expressed hope about meeting the Queen, stating she would emphasize the importance of justice and transparency for survivors.
Andrew's Legal Situation and Family Dynamics
A source close to Prince Andrew's legal team suggested that a meeting with Camilla would need to be private but would be "a natural thing for her to do." The source revealed: "Camilla realised early on how toxic his [Andrew's] links to Epstein were and she was a driving force behind the move to strip him of his titles. The King has always had a degree of sympathy for his brother and would wobble when it came to making difficult decisions, but Camilla has never had any doubts about the fact that Andrew had to be cut out of the family."
Spencer Kuvin, a lawyer representing several Epstein survivors, commented: "Queen Camilla has consistently positioned herself as an advocate for women affected by abuse, and this is exactly the kind of moment where that commitment should translate into action. A meeting with Epstein's survivors would send a powerful message that their voices matter – not just in courtrooms, but in the corridors of power."
Investigation Background and Royal Statements
On his 66th birthday, Prince Andrew was detained by officers during an 8am raid on his Wood Farm home, becoming the first senior royal to be arrested in modern times. It is understood Andrew was arrested in relation to allegations he passed sensitive information to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while acting as a trade envoy for the British government. He has denied any wrongdoing.
King Charles issued an unprecedented statement confirming his "wholehearted support and co-operation" with the investigation into Andrew just hours after he was detained. In March, Queen Camilla delivered a powerful speech in defence of victims and survivors of violence and abuse, stating: "Shame must change sides." Speaking as president of the Women of the World group at St James's Palace in London to mark International Women's Day, she told guests: "We stand with you." Camilla's intervention is widely viewed as a thinly veiled reference to the Epstein case and Andrew's alleged role.
Harry and Meghan's Australian Tour Controversy
At a later stage in the Palace Confidential episode, Rebecca English suggested that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's quasi-royal tour of Australia had "left a nasty taste in a lot of people's mouths." English added: "I think there would be less objection in royal circles if they were going out as private members the royal family, as Zara does every year when she goes out to her magic millions event on the Gold Coast and is quite open, she's there working. But it's this whole pseudo royal tour that's been around it."
English continued: "When you look at what they've done in the first couple of days, visiting a hospital and meeting with poorly children. You know, tick, doing kind of mental health Harry kicking a football. Tick. When you see the pictures of Harry doing a wreath laying at the Australian War Memorial, you would literally have thought those photographs were taken when he and Meghan visited Australia for the first time as working Royals in 2018."
Host Jo Elvin noted she was particularly "puzzled" by Harry's assertions that this was the "kind of life that he said he didn't want to be a part of." English responded: "But it's the only life I think he knows. What's really annoyed people is they have had these clutch of very royal tour style engagements that have actually really placed as headline news in Australia and elsewhere. And on the back of that, they're kind of piggybacking these commercial enterprises, and I think that has left quite a nasty taste in a lot of people's mouths."
Personal Revelations During Australian Visit
Rebecca English also noted that while Prince Harry has openly spoken favourably about the benefits of therapy during his and Meghan's Australia visit, "it's worth noting that he does actually have a paid gig as an ambassador for an online therapy organisation."
While speaking at the InterEdge Summit at Melbourne Park, Harry revealed: "After my mum died just before my 13th birthday – I was like: 'I don’t want this job. I don’t want this role – wherever this is headed, I don’t like it.' It killed my mum, and I was very much against it, and I stuck my head in the sand for years and years. Eventually I realised – well, hang on, if there was somebody else in this position, how would they be making the most of this platform and this ability and the resources that come with it to make a difference in the world? And also, what would my mum want me to do? And that really changed my own perspective."
Meanwhile, Meghan opened up about the aggressive online bullying she has received for a decade during a circle discussion about social media and mental health at the wellbeing program Baytr. "Every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked," she said. "And I was the most trolled person in the entire world."
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on these matters.
