Two activists from the anti-monarchy group Republic staged a protest inside Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, unfurling a large image of Prince Andrew with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the Throne Room. A second banner read: “What did you know?”
Protest at the heart of the monarchy
Graham Smith, chief executive officer of Republic, said: “Republic activists have taken questions about Andrew to the heart of the royal household, the symbolic home of the monarchy.” The group aimed to highlight the ongoing controversy over Andrew’s friendship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Smith added: “This question isn’t going away. It is simply not believable to think that Charles and William weren’t briefed years ago about the numerous allegations against Andrew. Security services, police and government would have had concerns about Andrew’s behaviour, and would have briefed the palace. Not least because of the potential threat to national security and the risk of blackmail.”
Andrew’s legal troubles
Andrew was stripped of his titles by his brother, King Charles, in October 2022. In February 2023, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his connection with Epstein, interviewed under caution, and released under investigation. In May, it emerged that detectives will consider allegations of sexual misconduct in their inquiry.
Andrew has long faced accusations from Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew three times, including when she was 17. Andrew has denied the allegations and settled a civil suit with Giuffre in 2022, paying her millions of pounds. It has been reported that Thames Valley Police detectives will travel to the United States to interview Giuffre’s brother and sister-in-law.
Call for transparency
Smith called for full disclosure from the palace and government action, noting that Green MP Sian Berry is calling for reform of freedom of information rules to end royal secrecy. Andrew also faced scrutiny last month when a National Audit Office report revealed he received undisclosed private income from subletting cottages on his Royal Lodge estate while paying a peppercorn rent for over two decades. He later moved to Marsh Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate after public outcry.
