Sky Roberts, brother of the late Virginia Giuffre, has criticised King Charles III for not meeting survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse during the monarch's visit to the United States this week. He said survivors were “still fighting to be heard” while powerful figures remained out of reach.
Roberts spoke at a roundtable discussion hosted by Ro Khanna, the California Democratic representative who co-authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The event included relatives of Giuffre, who took her own life last year, Epstein survivors Sharlene Rochard and Danielle Bensky, and representatives from human rights and women's rights organisations. It was held ahead of the King's address to Congress on Tuesday.
Khanna had written to the King last month urging him to meet survivors privately. However, a lawyer representing King Charles and Queen Camilla responded, as reported by the New York Times, that the King would not meet Epstein's victims during the visit, citing “ongoing police inquiries” in the UK. The letter said the King was “unable to meet survivors or comment directly on the matters under inquiry”, while adding that the King and Queen had “consistently made clear their support for all victims of abuse”.
The controversy surrounding Epstein has long affected the royal family because of the King's younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Giuffre alleged that Andrew sexually abused her after she was trafficked by Epstein, claims he repeatedly denied. He stepped back from royal duties in 2019, and settled a civil lawsuit brought by Giuffre in 2022 without admitting wrongdoing. He subsequently lost his military roles and royal patronage, and was stripped of his royal titles in October.
Giuffre died by suicide in April. In February, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he shared confidential material with Epstein. He has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged. Following the arrest, the King issued a rare public statement, saying “the law must take its course” and that it would not be right to comment further.
Roberts earlier told Sky News that the King's decision not to meet survivors was a “missed opportunity”. Khanna said he had convened the roundtable to discuss the realities of trafficking and sexual assault, and what Congress could do to protect survivors.
