King Charles is facing renewed public pressure as debate intensifies over how the royal family has handled the fallout from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s sexual misconduct scandal.
A new YouGov survey commissioned by Sky News suggests that many Britons believe the monarchy could have taken stronger action. Of the 7,000 people surveyed, 51% said the royal family should have done more in response to the allegations tied to Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein.
When asked how well King Charles has handled the situation, 45% of respondents said they felt he had managed it well. Meanwhile, 35% said the King should issue an apology to Epstein’s victims on behalf of the royal family.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual abuse brought against him by Virginia Giuffre, who filed a civil lawsuit in 2021. The case was later settled out of court without an admission of liability. Andrew stepped back from public duties and was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages following public backlash.
King Charles has previously spoken out against sex trafficking and has emphasized that the royal family’s thoughts are with victims. However, critics argue that stronger symbolic gestures, including a formal apology, could help repair reputational damage.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond told GB News that the family is deeply troubled by the ongoing scandal and aware of the harm it has caused to the monarchy’s image. She said their public messaging has consistently focused on victims, but acknowledged the controversy continues to weigh heavily.
As scrutiny surrounding the Epstein case resurfaces with new documents and public discussion, pressure on the monarchy to address lingering questions appears unlikely to fade anytime soon.
