The crisis involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor disrupts King Charles' duties, with public confrontations occurring. Photo / Getty Images
The crisis involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor disrupts King Charles' duties, with public confrontations occurring. Photo / Getty Images
The unfolding crisis surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has continued to disrupt King Charles’ official duties, with yet another brief confrontation on the matter playing out on Monday.
During a royal visit to Lancashire, in England’s northwest, the monarch was meeting with well-wishers at Clitheroe train station when a man’s voice washeard shouting: “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?”
In response, a number of royal fans were heard booing the man, while the King did not show a reaction and continued shaking people’s hands. Shortly afterwards, he waved goodbye and was whisked off in his car.
WATCH the moment crowds respond to a person who heckled the King over his brother Andrew as he arrived in Lancashire by royal train today.
Royalist crowds are heard shouting “Shut up” and "Kick him out”, then cheering as the heckler is removed. pic.twitter.com/7U0Zw9vhsa
It comes just days after a similarly uncomfortable incident unfolded during a royal engagement by the King and Queen in Dedham, Essex, east of London, where someone was heard shouting: “Charles, Charles, have you pressurised the police to start investigating Andrew?”
The royal family has been engulfed in crisis as the scandal continues to worsen following the US Justice Department’s recent release of millions of documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein’s network.
A number of the files involve Andrew – both in damaging photographs and also emails exchanged between himself and the convicted sex offender.
Andrew has previously been accused of having sex with a then-17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, nee Virginia Roberts, while she was being trafficked by Epstein.
Maxwell, right, with Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre. She denied introducing the duke to Epstein. Photo / PA Media
Among the more recent claims are that a second woman was also sent to the UK by the late billionaire for a sexual encounter with Andrew, which it is alleged occurred on royal property.
British former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over a woman lying on the floor. Photo / US Department of Justice, AFP
Andrew has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Late last year, Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the King which announced the stripping of Andrew’s “prince” title and other honours, as well as his formal eviction from the Royal Lodge on the grounds of Windsor Palace. Andrew relocated to Wood Farm Cottage in Norfolk, in eastern England, his temporary accommodation, in the middle of the night last week.
The statement in October appeared to briefly appease the public outcry, but the latest drop of Epstein files has reignited the scandal more ferociously than ever before.
The latest allegation against Andrew is that he shared confidential reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam in his capacity as the UK’s trade envoy.
Thames Valley Police have confirmed they are now assessing the claims.
Meanwhile, before the launch of Prince William’s Saudi Arabia visit, a spokesman for the Prince and Princess of Wales told journalists in Riyadh that the pair were “deeply concerned” by the situation surrounding the disgraced former prince.
“I can confirm The Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations,” the spokesman said.
“Their thoughts remain focused on the victims.”
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