In an earlier era, Britain’s royal family might have attempted to quietly manage the scandal surrounding Prince Andrew’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Not during the reign of King Charles III.
Since October, the King has stripped his younger brother of the title of prince, compelled him to relocate from the royal estate he occupied for over two decades, and issued a public statement in support of the women and girls abused by Epstein. These actions signal a decisive break from past practices.
Then came Monday’s unprecedented announcement that Buckingham Palace was ready to cooperate in the event of a police inquiry into Prince Andrew’s links to Epstein. This willingness to engage with law enforcement represents a significant shift in the monarchy’s approach to the ongoing controversy.
Charles was prompted to act after the U.S. Justice Department released millions of pages of Epstein documents, revealing details of Prince Andrew’s relationship with the convicted sex offender and undermining the former prince’s previous claims that he had severed ties after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. The released materials have brought renewed scrutiny to the Duke of York’s conduct.
A Break with the Past
Fifty or 100 years ago, “you can imagine the gentlemen’s agreements” that would have sought to “bury this kind of story”, said Ed Owens, author of “After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?” This historical tendency towards discretion and damage control is now being challenged by a more transparent and accountable approach.
“But, thankfully, we live in a more democratic age where people are rightly held accountable for their actions. In taking the moral high ground — and that is what the King is doing here — the monarchy is signalling very clearly that it recognises that public opinion demands that justice be served and that it is willing to comply with the police inquiry”, Owens explained.
The King’s latest step was triggered by allegations that Prince Andrew sent Epstein confidential reports from a 2010 tour of Southeast Asia, undertaken during his role as Britain’s envoy for international trade. The correspondence was uncovered by reporters examining the Justice Department files. This alleged sharing of official information raises serious questions about potential breaches of protocol and national security.
Police Assess Allegations
The Thames Valley Police, responsible for the region surrounding London where Prince Andrew formerly resided, stated on Monday that it was “assessing” the reports. This assessment will determine whether a formal criminal investigation into Prince Andrew’s actions is warranted. The palace responded swiftly to the police announcement.
“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 in a statement. “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.” This commitment to cooperation marks a departure from previous royal responses to the Epstein scandal.
Prince Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein.
The palace’s announcement was widely reported in British newspapers on Tuesday, with The Sun tabloid featuring the headline “King: We’ll Help Cops on Andy.” The extensive media coverage underscores the public interest in the unfolding situation.
Efforts to Contain the Scandal
The palace’s commitment to cooperate with police is just the latest in a series of actions designed to isolate Prince Andrew and shield the rest of the royal family from the scandal, said Craig Prescott, an expert on constitutional law and the monarchy at Royal Holloway, University of London. This strategy reflects a calculated effort to protect the institution’s reputation.
While the revelations about Prince Andrew have undoubtedly tarnished the family’s reputation, Prescott believes that support for the monarchy remains strong. “As long as it’s contained to Prince Andrew, then I think the monarchy’s relatively safe,” he said, suggesting that the scandal’s impact is currently limited to the individual involved.
Britain’s royal family has struggled to respond to Prince Andrew’s behaviour since 2010, when Virginia Giuffre alleged that Epstein had flown her to Britain to have sex with the then-prince. Giuffre died by suicide last year.
But under the late Queen Elizabeth II, who adhered to the philosophy of “never complain, never explain”, the palace largely remained silent. This approach, while traditional, proved increasingly untenable in the face of mounting evidence and public scrutiny.
That silence was broken in 2019, when Prince Andrew gave a disastrous interview to the BBC. Instead of silencing his critics, the interview only fueled the scandal with implausible explanations and a perceived lack of empathy for Epstein’s victims. Shortly after the interview, Queen Elizabeth forced her son to relinquish his royal duties.
However, Prince Andrew remained a prince until last fall.
King Takes Action
In October, the publication of a critical book about Prince Andrew’s sense of entitlement, coupled with the impending release of the Justice Department files, prompted King Charles to strip his brother of his remaining royal titles, including the right to be called a prince. This decisive action signaled a clear determination to distance the monarchy from the scandal.
The King also ordered Prince Andrew to vacate Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion owned by the crown. Prince Andrew left his longtime home last week, months ahead of schedule, and is now residing on the Sandringham Estate in eastern England, which is privately owned by the King.
The fallout from the scandal remains a “massive problem” for the monarchy’s future, Owens said. The King’s decision to cooperate with a potential investigation means the palace may be compelled to turn over documents and allow staff, or even members of the royal family, to be interviewed by police. This could lead to further unwelcome headlines, but Owens believes it is a necessary step to address the situation.
“This is going to lead to more unwanted headlines,” Owens said. “But this is how you exorcise the demon of Jeffrey Epstein.”
