Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles and Queen Camilla will not meet survivors of Jeffrey Epstein during their upcoming state visit to the United States. A palace source stated that such a meeting could potentially impact ongoing police inquiries and legal proceedings, and therefore would not be possible.
“There is no deviation from the guidance that we’ve previously issued, that it will not be possible during this State Visit for a meeting to take place of the kind that has been suggested,” the source said. “We fully understand and appreciate the survivors’ position, but can only reiterate that our position is clear that anything that could potentially impact on ongoing police inquiries and assessments and any potential legal action or criminal trial that could result from that would be to the detriment of the survivors themselves in their pursuit of justice.”
There have been increasing calls for the King and Queen to meet Epstein survivors during the four-day trip, which is scheduled for April 27-30 at the invitation of President Donald Trump. The palace source emphasised that while the risk may be small, it cannot be taken. However, they pointed to the King and Queen’s “robust comments and actions” on the issue, particularly Queen Camilla’s long-term advocacy for victims of domestic and sexual abuse.
The Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has faced calls to testify in a congressional inquiry over his associations with Epstein, has denied any wrongdoing. The King and Queen may face difficult questions about Andrew’s links to the convicted sex offender during their visit.
A previous palace statement had said the King’s and Queen’s “thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.” Queen Camilla has been a longstanding campaigner against domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, including speaking about her own experience of an assault.
