The brother of the late Virginia Giuffre has criticised King Charles III for failing to meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse during the monarch's state visit to the United States. Sky Roberts said survivors were 'still fighting to be heard' while powerful figures remained 'just out of reach'. His comments came during a roundtable discussion hosted by California Congressman Ro Khanna, who had previously written to the king urging a private meeting with survivors.
Khanna's letter, sent ahead of the king's address to Congress, asked Charles to hear directly from those abused by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. However, a lawyer for the king and Queen Camilla declined the request, citing 'ongoing police inquiries' in the UK. The response stated that Charles was 'unable to meet survivors or comment directly on the matters under inquiry', while reiterating the royal couple's support for all victims of abuse.
The Epstein scandal has long cast a shadow over the British royal family due to the king's younger brother, Prince Andrew. Giuffre had alleged that Andrew sexually assaulted her after she was trafficked by Epstein. Andrew has consistently denied the claims, but stepped back from royal duties in 2019 and lost his military titles in 2022 after settling a civil lawsuit with Giuffre. He did not admit wrongdoing.
In February, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he shared confidential material with Epstein. He has not been charged. Following the arrest, King Charles issued a statement saying 'the law must take its course'. Roberts described the king's refusal to meet survivors as a 'missed opportunity' to show solidarity.
The roundtable, held on Tuesday, included Epstein survivors Sharlene Rochard and Danielle Bensky, as well as representatives from human rights organisations. Khanna said the event aimed to discuss failures in systems meant to protect survivors and actions Congress could take. The gathering took place as the US Department of Justice continues to release files related to Epstein, which have further highlighted Andrew's links to the disgraced financier.
