Prince William faces public questions over Andrew scandal during Saudi visit. Photo / Getty Images
Prince William has dodged questions about the scandal embroiling his uncle during an awkward moment on his official trip to Saudi Arabia.
The Prince of Wales was touring a sports centre in Riyadh as part of his diplomatic visit to the country when a reporter raised the ongoing headlines tied to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
“Sir, to what extent do you think the royal family has done enough around the Andrew and Epstein issue?” the journalist called out in footage shared by Sky News UK.
When William didn’t answer, the question was repeated, although it again did not elicit a response as the future King continued chatting to the woman he had been walking with.
The Prince – who is also president of the Football Association in the UK – was touring Misk Sports Centre in a bid to help promote women’s sport and participation on day two of his high-profile Saudi tour.
His three-day visit is part of an official state tour aiming to strengthen ties between the UK and Saudi Arabia.
Just hours before it was set to get underway on Monday, William and Kate, the Princess of Wales, broke their silence on the escalating Andrew scandal in an apparent bid to make their stance clear and draw a line in the sand to keep focus on the upcoming visit.
The royal couple, via a Kensington Palace spokesman, said they were “deeply concerned” about “continuing revelations” surrounding the former Duke of York and Epstein.
“I can confirm the Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations,” the spokesman told journalists, who had travelled to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to cover William’s official three-day visit.
“Their thoughts remain focused on the victims.”
Just hours later, the King also released an explosive statement via Buckingham Palace, declaring that he stood “ready” to support police investigations into his disgraced brother.
It was confirmed earlier that day that Thames Valley Police is now looking into allegations that he shared confidential documents with the convicted sex offender while working in an official capacity as the UK trade envoy.
Andrew has always denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
“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,” the Palace said on Monday night (local time).
“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.”
Like William, during a royal visit on Monday, the monarch was also confronted with a question about Andrew while meeting with wellwishers at Clitheroe train station, in England’s northwest.
In footage shared online, a man’s voice was heard 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.
It comes just days after a similarly uncomfortable incident 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 ongoing scandal surrounding Andrew has continued to deepen in recent days after the release of millions of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.
He had previously been accused of having sex with a then-17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, nee Virginia Roberts, while she was being trafficked by Epstein.
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.
Andrew has vehemently denied the allegations
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