King Charles voices ‘profound concern’ as police assess claims Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared UK trade files with Jeffrey Epstein
London — King Charles has signaled “profound concern” over allegations about his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct and said he would “stand ready to support” police if approached, Buckingham Palace said Monday, as Thames Valley Police confirmed it is assessing claims the former prince shared confidential trade reports with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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The palace said the king’s concern had been expressed “in words and through unprecedented actions,” adding: “As was previously stated, Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.” The palace said it has not yet been contacted by investigators.
Kensington Palace separately said the Prince and Princess of Wales were “deeply concerned” by the “continued revelations” tied to Epstein, adding their thoughts “remain focused on the victims.” Prince William departed Monday for a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, where he is due to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the first day.
The developments come amid a fresh wave of scrutiny following the recent release by U.S. authorities of a vast cache of documents linked to Epstein. The disclosures have intensified pressure on Britain’s monarchy and Westminster, and have prompted police to open a separate investigation into former Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office.
At the center of the latest claims are emails from late 2010, released by the U.S. Department of Justice, that appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor forwarding to Epstein reports from official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore undertaken in his capacity as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment. Trade envoys are generally prohibited from sharing sensitive or commercial documents under confidentiality rules.
One email dated November 2010 was forwarded by Mountbatten-Windsor to Epstein just five minutes after it was sent by his then-special adviser, Amir Patel, according to the documents. On Dec. 24, 2010, he also reportedly included Epstein on a confidential brief outlining investment opportunities related to the reconstruction of Helmand province in Afghanistan.
Additional allegations include a claim that a second woman was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor. He has previously denied any wrongdoing over his links to Epstein and has not directly addressed the latest assertions.
Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, said he had reported the accusations about the trade documents to police. “I have now reported Andrew to the (Thames Valley Police) for suspected misconduct in public office and breach of official secrets in relation to these specific allegations,” he wrote on X, adding: “I cannot see any significant difference between these allegations and those against Peter Mandelson.”
Thames Valley Police confirmed receipt of the report. “We can confirm receipt of this report and are assessing the information in line with our established procedures,” a spokesperson said.
Mountbatten-Windsor, the king’s brother and a former prince, has faced years of scrutiny over his friendship with Epstein. He was stripped of his titles by King Charles last year and, according to people familiar with his arrangements, left Royal Lodge last week for the Sandringham estate. He has not responded to recent requests for comment since the latest release of Epstein files.
The ongoing disclosures have also rippled into Downing Street. Over the last 10 days, revelations from the Epstein files have engulfed Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the most serious crisis of his premiership following his appointment of Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. Starmer has faced mounting questions as police review the separate allegations involving the former minister.
For now, Buckingham Palace says it stands ready to assist if asked, while Kensington Palace emphasized that senior royals remain focused on the victims of abuse as the fallout from the Epstein document release continues to spread.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
