Prince Andrew’s relationship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein caused a critical reaction in the Royal family.
King Charles III was publicly heckled on Monday over his knowledge of Prince Andrew’s relationship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, as renewed scrutiny over the scandal punctured an otherwise celebratory royal visit to Lichfield Cathedral.
The monarch, on an engagement to honour community work in Staffordshire, was confronted by a protester who shouted direct and controversial questions about his brother and alleged official cover-ups.
A Royal Visit Derailed by the Andrew Question
The King was on a royal walkabout outside the historic Lichfield Cathedral on Monday, October 27, shaking hands and greeting well-wishers who had gathered for the event. The visit, which was intended to highlight local community and heritage skills, including a focus on the cathedral’s ‘Table for the Nation’ made from 5,000-year-old oak, was abruptly overshadowed by the appearance of a heckler.
As His Majesty approached a section of the crowd, a man—believed to be a member of the anti-monarchy group Republic—began shouting a series of pointed questions. The central demand, captured on video and widely circulated, was: “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?”
The heckler did not stop there, escalating his line of questioning by repeatedly challenging the King, asking: “Have you asked the police to cover up for Andrew?” He concluded by demanding, “Should MPs be allowed to debate the royals in the House of Commons?”
King Charles, 76, maintained his composure throughout the confrontation. He neither acknowledged nor responded to the questions, continuing to wave and engage with other members of the public before being gently guided away by his security detail.
The man’s actions visibly annoyed several royal supporters in the immediate vicinity, with one woman reportedly telling him to “shut up” as the King was escorted to the other side of the barrier.
Renewed Pressure on the Monarchy
The public confrontation underscores the persistent political and public pressure on the monarchy over the continuing fallout from Prince Andrew’s long-standing connection to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The incident follows a dramatic fortnight for the Duke of York, who was recently compelled to stop using his remaining royal titles and honours following an alleged “discussion with the King.”
This move was prompted by intensified public focus on the scandal, particularly following the posthumous publication of a memoir by the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused the Prince of sexual abuse—claims he has consistently and vehemently denied.
While the government has so far resisted calls from some Members of Parliament (MPs) to allow a full debate on the conduct of the royal family in the House of Commons, the heckler’s question about a parliamentary debate reflects the growing unease among critics who feel the issue has not been fully resolved by the Palace.
The chief executive of Republic, Graham Smith, commented on the incident, stating that the royal family “need to be challenged,” and that “if the politicians won’t do the job and the police won’t investigate, then more and more members of the public will be asking the tough questions.”
Despite the brief disruption, the King continued with his planned engagements, later travelling to the nearby National Memorial Arboretum to attend the dedication ceremony for the UK’s first national memorial to LGBT+ people who served in the Armed Forces, where he was greeted with a warm and supportive reception.
Headline Points
• King Heckled: King Charles III was confronted by a protester shouting questions about Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein during a walkabout at Lichfield Cathedral on Monday, October 27.
• Key Question: The heckler repeatedly demanded, “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?” and asked if the King had pressed the police to “cover up” for his brother.
• Royal Response: The King did not respond to the questions and was quickly ushered away by his security team, while other well-wishers expressed annoyance at the interruption.
• Context: The incident follows Prince Andrew’s recent agreement to stop using his remaining titles and honours amid renewed scrutiny over the Epstein affair.
• Wider Issue: The heckler’s questions about a potential police cover-up and an MP debate highlight the continuing political and public dissatisfaction with the monarchy’s handling of the scandal.
