Former deputy Labour leader Baroness Harriet Harman has publicly urged Queen Camilla to meet with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during the forthcoming state visit to the United States. This appeal comes amid repeated calls from US Congressman Ro Khanna and the family of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre for a royal audience, with The Mail On Sunday reporting that victims' rights groups have already approached the Queen.
Royal Plans Firmly Stated
A royal source has reiterated that King Charles III and Queen Camilla do not intend to meet Epstein survivors during their four-day trip at the end of the month. The visit marks the King's first to the US as monarch, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence and heralding nationwide celebrations.
Harman's Public Plea on National Radio
Baroness Harman, who serves as the UK's special envoy for women and girls, expressed her views on LBC's Tonight With Andrew Marr. She argued that a refusal from Camilla to meet Epstein's victims would not align with the Queen's established work on supporting survivors of male violence, especially as she is already scheduled to meet other abuse survivors during the visit.
She referenced the Queen's previous engagement with French rape survivor Gisele Pelicot, noting that Camilla met her at Clarence House, hugged her, and wrote to her afterwards. "And I think it would be very good if, as well as meeting other victims of male violence, which she's scheduled to do anyway, she does meet the Epstein victims," Harman stated.
Constitutional and Legal Complexities
Royal sources have clarified that legal implications and the King's constitutional position make such a meeting impossible while UK police investigations into matters related to Epstein remain ongoing. The royal family has been contending with the fallout from Prince Andrew's association with Epstein for years, with the Duke of York recently arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his connections to the paedophile and released under investigation.
Harman later emphasised: "And since they've asked to see her, if she refuses to see them when she is seeing other victims of abuse, it wouldn't sit with what she does all the time, and which she's been doing, actually, since long before she became Queen." She expressed hope that Camilla would "hear my plea" and seize the opportunity to demonstrate solidarity with the victims.
Queen's Advocacy Background
Queen Camilla has long been a supporter of abused women and sexual violence survivors. During the state visit, she is set to engage with organisations advocating for domestic abuse survivors, continuing her dedicated work in this area. However, the specific request regarding Epstein survivors presents a distinct challenge due to the ongoing legal and investigative context surrounding the case.
