The Queen has scheduled several events to meet domestic abuse survivors, but has been advised not to meet victims of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein due to the risk of prejudicing ongoing police probes
The Queen will meet domestic abuse survivors on several occasions during the King and Queen’s tour of the US, but the royals still will not meet any of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims.
The royals have been called upon to meet with sex trafficking victims of the late convicted sex offender, but have been advised to decline due to ongoing police investigations.
The former prince Andrew has constantly been urged to speak to US investigators probing Epstein’s crimes and alongside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, was named numerous times in documents released by the US State Department this year referring to the late billionaire financier.
Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who co-sponsored a law that compelled the US justice department to release the Epstein files last year, wrote to the King asking him to privately meet victims to hear from them directly about “how powerful individuals and institutions failed them”.
Both the King and Queen have previously expressed how their “sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse”.
The Queen has had a long history of supporting victims of abuse, including featuring in a landmark documentary by Love Monday Productions for ITV in 2004, highlighting the plight of survivors.
After being stripped of his titles and honours by the King, his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on allegations of misconduct in a public office, relating to allegations he passed on sensitive information to Epstein in his role as a trade envoy for the government.
Buckingham Palace has stated that it would not be possible during this State Visit for a meeting to take place of the kind that has been suggested.
A spokesman said: “We fully understand and appreciate the survivors’ position, but can only reiterate that our position is clear that anything that could potentially impact on ongoing police inquiries and assessments and any potential criminal action that could result from that would be to the detriment of the survivors themselves in their pursuit of justice.”
Charles and Camilla will visit the US from April 27-30, starting in Washington before traveling to New York and Virginia.
The aim of the trip is to strengthen ties between the two nations, and cement the s0-called ‘Special Relationship’, that has been under immense strain after the United States launched war against Iran in the Middle East.
The upcoming trip has been criticised for going ahead in light of the ongoing war in the Middle East waged by President Trump causing global chaos.
Yet President Trump has labelled King Charles “a gentleman” and said he is very much looking forward to welcoming him to the US, after the King hosted the US leader on for an unprecedented second State Visit in Windsor last September.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey even called on the Prime Minister to cancel the King’s scheduled state visit, saying: “Keir Starmer should advise the King that the state visit to the US scheduled for April should be called off. At a time when Trump has launched an illegal war that is devastating the Middle East and pushing up energy bills for British families, it’s clear this visit should not go ahead.
“A state visit from our King would be seen as yet another huge diplomatic coup for President Trump, so it should not be given to someone who repeatedly insults and damages our country.”
In response Sir Keir Starmer said: “Mature alliances are not about pretending differences don’t exist. They’re about addressing them directly, respectfully and with a focus on results.”
Palace sources suggested that the King and Queen have a unique role to play in terms of building alliances, even in challenging circumstances, which is a part of the historic strategic objective of State Visits.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: “We are close allies, we do disagree on things, but that doesn’t detract from the value that both sides get from this relationship and have done over many decades.”
But the royals hope the visit will be a cause for partnership and celebration, as well as marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Buckingham Palace said “the visit will be an opportunity to recognise the shared history of our two nations; the breadth of the economic, security and cultural relationship that has developed since then; and the deep people-to-people connections which unite communities.”
As part of the tour the royals will also attend a traditional American Block Party, a public celebration, usually organised by neighbours, where a city street or residential block is closed to traffic.
The party in Virginia will see locals coming out to meet the royals and celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
On the first day of the visit, the King and Queen will be welcomed in Washington informally by President Trump and the First Lady.
They will then attend a private tea and a Garden Party, before being welcomed to the US with a formal ceremony later in the programme at the White House, which will feature a ceremonial military review and a State Dinner in the evening.
On Tuesday 28, the King will address Congress, only the second time a British Monarch has addressed a joint meeting, following Queen Elizabeth II’s speech at the Capitol during a State Visit to the United States, in 1991.
In New York on Wednesday, April 29, Charles and Camilla will visit the 9/11 memorial, In recognition of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks later this year, as we’ll as a visit to Harlem in the city.
In Virginia, the King and Queen will attend a traditional American Block Party – public celebration, usually organised by neighbours, where a city street or residential block is closed to traffic.
After the US visit the Queen will return to the UK while the King will travel to Bermuda, from May 1-2, marking his first visit as Sovereign to a British Overseas Territory.
The King will view a museum exhibition dedicated to the history of Bermuda, furthering his understanding of its connection to the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
The King will also meet representatives from the UK Space Agency to hear about plans to install a new telescope site in Bermuda as part of global efforts to track space debris, supporting international space sustainability.
