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During a visit to an Essex village today, King Charles faced a disruptive moment when a reporter questioned him about the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The inquiry took place as he made his way through Dedham.
The journalist, seeking answers about the Royal Family’s potential cooperation with the ongoing investigation into the disgraced financier, posed the question to the monarch amid growing scrutiny surrounding Epstein’s ties to Prince Andrew.
As King Charles braved the rain upon his arrival, ITV reporter Cari Davies could be heard asking, “Your Majesty, will your family help with the Epstein investigation?” in reference to the controversial connections.
The King chose not to address the question and turned away, while a bystander interjected, telling the reporter to “Oh, shut up.” Undeterred, the journalist pressed further, asking, “Do you have a message for the victims, Your Majesty?”
The King did not respond and turned away, while another woman said: ‘Oh, shut up.’ But the journalist added: ‘Do you have a message for the victims. Your Majesty?’
Charles and Camilla were later seen holding umbrellas as they walked through Dedham in the drizzle, with crowds gathered behind metal barriers to meet them.
During this walkabout, Ms Davies asked the King: ‘Your Majesty, will your family help with the Epstein investigation? Your Majesty, do you have a message to victims?’
A man in the crowd wearing a grey hat and holding a blue umbrella also shouted: ‘Charles, Charles, have you pressurised the police to start investigating Andrew?’
King Charles is questioned about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation in Dedham, Essex, today
A reporter asks Charles:Â ‘Your Majesty, will your family help with the Epstein investigation?
Charles is asked the question as he meets well-wishers in the pouring rain in Dedham today
Police officers approached the man afterwards and walked with him away from the barriers.
The King also walked away as he continued to shake hands and he was then led to the far side of the road, away from the crowds, to continue the walkabout.
Charles and Camilla had earlier met local groups inside the Sun Inn pub and went into the kitchen where Camilla tried her hand at cutting ravioli pasta.
Towards the end of their walkabout they listened to a choir of schoolchildren in the street, before briefly going into the Essex Rose Teahouse where Charles unveiled a plaque and cut a cake.
After going back outside they spoke to more members of the public before leaving in a Bentley.
Adrian Sharpe, of Dedham, was among the crowds who turned out to see the King and Queen.
The 62-year-old handyman said it was ‘nice and casual really for a village event – obviously high security’.
Asked about the heckler, he said: ‘I think it’s pointless really as what Andrew’s done is what Andrew’s done, it’s not what King Charles has done is it? He’s his own person.’
He said that ‘they’ve taken the HRH off of Andrew’, adding: ‘What else can they do? Surely it’s a police matter now.’
Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills told the broadcaster: ‘It’s inevitable and really I think as a family they know that this is potentially what’s going to happen.Â
A heckler in the crowd, wearing a grey hat and with a blue umbrella, shouts at the King today
The man says: ‘Charles, have you pressurised the police to start investigating Andrew?’
The King is led to the far side of the road, away from the crowds, to continue the walkabout
Police officers approach the man and walk with him away from the barriers this afternoon
‘They have been through many difficult periods in terms of family matters and more often that not they will be thrown a question.
‘But as is the usual case, again the King today deciding to ignore it because I think for the King and Queen they would say that their priority today was to meet and greet as many of the people who turned out.
‘The weather is terrible and yet people have turned out in their hundreds to come and enjoy what ultimately was meant to be a really nice royal visit celebrating local pubs, celebrating the local community.’
Earlier, photos of Andrew released in the Epstein files were scattered around Dedham ahead of the King’s visit.
Several pictures of the former duke crouching over an unidentified woman were found littered on a street in the village.
The image was included as part of the latest batch of files released by the US Department of Justice relating to Epstein last Friday.
Yesterday, Camilla ignored questions over whether she had a message for Epstein’s victims – and whether the Royal Family would assist the investigation.
The Queen, who is patron of the National Literacy Trust, was visiting Christ Church Primary School in Camden, North London, yesterday to open its library when she was quizzed by a reporter.
The Queen was seen smiling as she stepped out of the car and said ‘Morning’ before she faced questions about Epstein.
As she walked into the library, a reporter asked her: ‘Good morning, Your Majesty. Will the Royal Family help the Epstein investigation? Do you have a message for Epstein’s victims, Your Majesty?’
King Charles III and Queen Camilla meet wellwishers outside The Sun Inn in Dedham today
King Charles III shakes hands with a woman outside The Sun Inn in Dedham this afternoon
Charles holds an umbrella as he meets well-wishers in Dedham in the rain this afternoon
Camilla did not respond to the questions, instead walking straight into the primary school.
On Tuesday, Prince Edward – Andrew and Charles’s brother – became the first royal to comment on the latest Epstein files, saying it is ‘really important to remember the victims’.
Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, the Duke of Edinburgh was asked about the latest revelations relating to the paedophile.
He replied : ‘Well, with the best will in the world, I’m not sure this is the audience that is probably the least bit interested in that.
‘They all came here to listen to education, solving the future, but no, I think it’s all really important always to remember the victims and who are the victims in all this? A lot of victims in this.’
Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt has called for the media to follow suit and hold senior royals to account.
Andrew and Charles at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral last September
Sharing the video of Camilla ignoring questions, he wrote: ‘The British media must continue to do the right thing – despite the letters of outrage they may well receive from Buckingham Palace – and try and hold senior royals to account over Andrew and Epstein. Next up – Prince William in Saudi Arabia, next week.’
William will carry out his first official visit to Saudi Arabia from Monday until Wednesday at the request of the UK Government.
Also yesterday, protesters from the anti-monarchy group Republic stuck crime tape across the railings of Buckingham Palace and unfurled a banner which said: ‘Charles, what are you hiding?’
It comes after Andrew moved from Royal Lodge, his Windsor mansion, to the King’s Sandringham Estate on Tuesday.
On the same day, Thames Valley Police confirmed they were assessing allegations that a woman was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew.
The King’s younger brother features a number of times in the Epstein files, with another photo appearing to show him touching a fully-clothed woman’s abdomen.
The images are undated and it is unclear where they were taken.
Andrew has previously strongly denied any wrongdoing.