A public walkabout by King Charles and Queen Camilla in an Essex village was interrupted by a heckler who shouted questions about the ongoing controversy surrounding Prince Andrew and his links to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Incident During Royal Visit
The incident occurred on Thursday in the picturesque village of Dedham, Essex, where the King and Queen were meeting well-wishers along the high street. Despite the drizzly weather, the royal couple held umbrellas as they greeted crowds gathered behind metal barriers.
As the King approached one section of the crowd, a man wearing a grey hat and holding a blue umbrella shouted directly at him: "Charles, Charles, have you pressurised the police to start investigating Andrew?" The question appeared to reference the ongoing scrutiny of Prince Andrew's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Police Response and Aftermath
Following the outburst, police officers quickly approached the man and escorted him away from the barriers. Essex Police later confirmed that no arrests had been made in connection with the incident.
Shortly after the heckling, a news reporter in the crowd attempted to ask the King a question about his brother. In response, royal aides led Charles to the far side of the road, away from the main crowds, to continue the walkabout in a more controlled environment.
Background to the Controversy
The incident comes amid renewed attention on Prince Andrew's connections to Epstein, following the release of new documents by the US Department of Justice. Photographs of Andrew from these files had reportedly been scattered around Dedham ahead of the royal visit, according to local media reports.
Prince Andrew, who recently moved from his Windsor mansion to the King's Sandringham Estate, has consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding his association with Epstein.
Public Reaction in Dedham
Local residents who attended the walkabout expressed mixed views about the heckler's intervention. Adrian Sharpe, a 62-year-old handyman from Dedham, described the event as "nice and casual really for a village event – obviously high security."
Regarding the heckler, Mr Sharpe commented: "I think it's pointless really as what Andrew's done is what Andrew's done, it's not what King Charles has done is it? He's his own person." He added that "they've taken the HRH off of Andrew" and questioned what more could be done, suggesting it was now "a police matter."
Russell Townsend, a 67-year-old retired health and safety consultant from nearby Stratford St Mary, said he had shaken the Queen's hand but only saw the King from behind as he was moved across the road. When asked about Prince Andrew, Mr Townsend responded: "I must admit today I didn't think of it really. I kind of see it as quite a separate issue really. I just think it is what it is and I can kind of separate the two."
His daughter Phoebe, 22, added: "I don't really follow that. I'm just here to see the King. If it was Prince Andrew maybe not, but the King's the King."
Continuing the Royal Engagement
Despite the interruption, the King and Queen continued with their scheduled engagements in Dedham. Earlier in the day, they had met local groups inside The Sun Inn pub, where Camilla tried her hand at cutting ravioli pasta in the kitchen.
Towards the end of their walkabout, the royal couple listened to a choir of schoolchildren performing in the street before briefly visiting the Essex Rose Teahouse. There, King Charles unveiled a commemorative plaque and cut a celebration cake.
After returning outside, they spoke to additional members of the public before departing the village in a Bentley, concluding what had become a more eventful royal visit than originally anticipated.
