King Charles III is facing fresh scrutiny after declining a request to meet victims of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein during his upcoming U.S. visit.
The appeal, reportedly pushed by a U.S. lawmaker, urged the monarch to acknowledge survivors amid ongoing fallout tied to his brother, former Prince Andrew. However, Buckingham Palace has made it clear that no such meeting is planned.
While the King is said to support his brother being held accountable under the law, the decision to avoid direct engagement with victims is already drawing criticism, particularly given the royal family’s long-running association with Epstein’s circle.
King Charles Won’t Meet Epstein Victims Due To Legal Reasons
King Charles will not be meeting with Epstein’s victims during the course of his U.S. visit, with Buckingham Palace citing legal constraints tied to ongoing investigations. The Epstein scandal continues to cast a long shadow in the U.K., largely due to the late financier’s links to Andrew.
Despite a direct appeal from U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, who urged the monarch to meet with victims during his upcoming visit, the request has been formally declined. According to The New York Times, Khanna wrote to Buckingham Palace proposing the meeting as a gesture of support for survivors.
In its response, the Palace emphasized that such a meeting would not take place.
“The King and Queen have consistently made clear their support for all victims of abuse, wherever and however perpetrated,” the statement read, adding that such an engagement would not be possible due to “ongoing police inquiries” in the United Kingdom.
U.S. Lawmaker Says Epstein Decision Risks Monarchy’s Image
Khanna has warned that the decision not to meet Epstein’s victims could ultimately damage the monarchy’s global image. The lawmaker has long pushed for deeper scrutiny into Epstein’s network and that of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. He expressed disappointment at the King’s refusal and urged a rethink.
“The British monarchy can be seen as a relic of colonialism and imperialism,” he said, “or it can be a modern force for standing up for women’s rights and human rights.”
He added that choosing not to engage with the victims risks reinforcing criticism at a time when the royal institution is under renewed scrutiny, and called on Charles to reconsider.
Virginia Giuffre’s Family Also Urged King Charles To Meet With Victims
According to the BBC, Charles’s brother’s connection to Epstein became public after the late Virginia Giuffre accused him of having sex with her three times, including when she was still a minor.
Earlier in the month, her family also called on the monarch to meet up with victims, especially after Andrew was arrested in February. “We strongly urge King Charles to meet with survivors and us and hear what we have to say,” read a statement from Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, and her sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts.
Inside The King’s Planned U.S. Visit
Had Charles agreed to meet with the victims of the Epstein scandal, the encounter would likely have taken place during his upcoming visit to the United States.
The monarch is set to travel alongside his wife, Queen Camilla, for a ceremonial tour marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Scheduled from April 27 to April 30, the visit will include a White House state dinner and an address to a joint session of Congress.
The trip carries added historical weight, coming nearly two decades after the last official visit by Queen Elizabeth II, who was hosted by then-President George W. Bush.
King Charles Backs Legal Action Against Prince Andrew
Despite declining to meet the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, Charles has made clear he supports legal accountability for ex-Prince Andrew.
Following the former Duke’s arrest, the King issued a statement pledging his “full and wholehearted support and cooperation” with U.K. authorities as they pursue their investigation and any potential legal proceedings.
“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter,” the monarch said at the time.
The stance aligns with some of his earlier actions. In October 2025, King Charles initiated a formal process to strip Andrew of his titles and honors, a move that also saw him vacate his royal residence in Windsor Great Park.