King Charles urged to meet Epstein victims, US representative says

A member of Congress has asked King Charles to engage with survivors of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his upcoming visit to the United States. Though not yet officially announced, the King and Queen Camilla are expected to make a trip to the United States in late April. This potential meeting would follow a law introduced by Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, who helped compel the release of Epstein’s case files last year.

Khanna, in a letter to the King on Monday, emphasized the need for the monarch to personally connect with victims to gain insight into “how powerful individuals and institutions failed them.” He highlighted that Epstein’s network had strong links to the UK via Ghislaine Maxwell, his relationships with British public figures, and the social circles in which he operated. These ties, he argued, “raise broader questions about Epstein’s ability to maintain influence and protection across borders for years.”

“As you are aware, this is not solely an American matter,” Khanna wrote in the letter.

The royal family has previously stated their sympathy for abuse victims, but the congressman pointed to the UK’s role in Epstein’s case. Congress has already sought testimony from the King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador, regarding their associations with Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor, who lost his titles last year due to those ties, has not been required to appear in the US and has yet to respond to the inquiry. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his relationships with Epstein.

If the visit proceeds, the King and Queen are anticipated to attend Washington, where they will meet with President Donald Trump and address Congress. The trip would precede the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence in July. The BBC has reached out to Buckingham Palace for further comments.

The King recently stated that the royal family was “ready to support” police investigations after his brother was arrested and released on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This relates to Andrew’s tenure as UK trade representative from 2001 to 2011, during which he was alleged to have shared official documents with Epstein. Recently released files include images of Mountbatten-Windsor with Epstein and a photo of the former prince kneeling over a woman whose face is blurred.

In 2022, Mountbatten-Windsor settled out of court with Virginia Giuffre, the primary accuser who alleged he sexually abused her at age 17. The agreement did not include an acknowledgment of responsibility.