Buckingham Palace says the King has expressed "profound concern" over the claims against his younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over Jeffrey Epstein. Photo / Getty Images
King Charles says he is prepared to support police in investigating allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the King expressed “profound concern” over the claims against his younger brother and repeated his support for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein.
The King was heckled on Monday while on anengagement as pressure grew on the royal family to compel Mountbatten-Windsor to contribute to a police investigation.
Thames Valley Police have confirmed they are examining allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential data with Epstein when the then Prince Andrew was working as a British trade envoy.
He has separately been accused of sexually assaulting Virginia Guiffre, which he settled in a civil claim, and of spending the night with an adult woman who was flown to the UK for sex with him.
The police have not yet contacted Buckingham Palace.
A palace spokesman said: “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct.
“While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect.
“As was previously stated, Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.”
It followed the Prince and Princess of Wales’ first public comment about the Epstein files on Monday, issued through the couple’s spokesman.
At Clitheroe Station on Monday morning (local time), the King maintained his composure and continued shaking hands and waving at the assembled crowd while well-wishers tried to drown the heckler out with cheers.
The unidentified man shouted as he walked by: “Charles, how long have you known about Andrew and Epstein? Have you been protecting Andrew from prosecution?”
The King did not appear to hear the questions and did not answer as he continued to make his way through the crowd.
The monarch later met a relative of the late Queen’s pony Emma, as he received a warm welcome at Clitheroe Auction Mart. He toured the livestock area on a non-market day and spoke to farmers who brought their rare breed sheep and cattle.
The King was shown around the mart’s rural business centre where farmers can access land agents, financial advisers and lawyers.
He also spoke to representatives of the Field Nurse charity, which enables nurses to hold drop-in sessions at auction marts across Lancashire and South Cumbria to offer basic health checks and mental wellbeing support to members of the rural community.
Last week, the 77-year-old sovereign faced a similar line of questioning during a visit with the Queen to Dedham, near Colchester, when a member of the public asked him whether police should investigate his brother over his ties to Epstein while imploring “justice” for the victims.
Earlier on Monday, the Prince and Princess of Wales said they were “deeply concerned” by the “continuing revelations” of the Epstein files, which include numerous documents to, from and about Mountbatten-Windsor, the Prince of Wales’ uncle.
A spokesman for Kensington Palace said: “I can confirm the Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims.”
Andrew’s first accuser, Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, claimed he had sexually abused her on three occasions when she was a teenager. Mountbatten-Windsor denies the claims.
A second woman has now claimed that she was sent to the UK for sex with him.
Police are also assessing claims that Mountbatten-Windsor passed on confidential information to Epstein.
Emails suggest that Mountbatten-Windsor passed on information to the convicted paedophile about what had been discussed during his visits as UK trade envoy.
A message sent by Amit Patel, then Mountbatten-Windsor’s special assistant, in November 2010, contained reports of what had been discussed on visits to Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and China.
Thames Valley Police confirmed on Monday that it was “assessing the information in line with our established procedures”.
Until now, the Prince of Wales has deferred to his father in dealing with the “Andrew issue”, with a source repeating that he supports the King’s leadership.
However, he is said to have privately pushed for a firmer line in dealing with it. Before the release of the latest Epstein files, he was also understood to have been mindful of Mountbatten-Windsor’s mental health under extreme public pressure.
The statement from the Prince and Princess of Wales was issued before Prince William’s trip to Saudi Arabia.
The Prince will land in Riyadh on Monday night for a three-day tour at the request of the Government. He had been facing growing calls to speak out about the Epstein files.
The royal family is believed to have been unaware of what was in the documents and the details of Mountbatten-Windsor’s continued association with Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all allegations against him.
In October, as public feeling built against the then Prince Andrew, Buckingham Palace issued a statement from the King that confirmed that his brother would lose his titles and honours, and would be leaving Royal Lodge in Windsor.
The King’s spokesman said: “These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
Since more Epstein files have been released, the palace has pointed to that statement and privately reiterated the King and Queen’s support for victims.
Last week, the Duke of Edinburgh expressed support for Epstein’s victims, telling CNN: “I think it’s really important, always, to remember the victims, and who are the victims in all this? A lot of victims in this.”
In 2019, the then Prince Andrew stepped back from public life after a Newsnight interview in which he defended his friendship with Epstein and was accused of failing to express empathy with his victims.
Part of his narrative – that he cut contact with Epstein in December 2010 – has since been exposed as false, with documents showing that they remained in touch and Epstein was invited to Buckingham Palace afterwards.
In October 2025, Mountbatten-Windsor released a statement through the Palace, saying: “In discussion with the King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family.
“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
Sign up to Herald Premium Editor’s Picks, delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Editor-in-Chief Murray Kirkness picks the week’s best features, interviews and investigations. Sign up for Herald Premium here.