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In the course of a visit to a cathedral in Staffordshire on the start of the week, King Charles was heckled by a protester who asked him about Prince Andrew's connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The individual inquired how long the monarch had been known about his brother's association with Epstein, and also raised doubts about whether he had instructed the police to "cover up" for Andrew.

Amid the heckling, there were throngs of well-wishers and cheers for the King, who was in the region for an engagement.

Prince Andrew's associations with Epstein have been under intense scrutiny in the past few weeks. The prince, who relinquished his royal duties earlier this month, has categorically denied any wrongdoing.

"For how long have you known about Prince Andrew and Epstein? Have you asked the police to conceal for him?"

The King remained silent but carried on meeting fans, some of whom chanted "God Save The King". One fan can be heard requesting him for a hug.

A female bystander outside the cathedral was also heard telling the heckler to "go away" and to "be quiet".

Controversy Reignited by Posthumous Publication

The scandal over the Duke of York's connections to Jeffrey Epstein has been brought back into focus by sexual abuse claims detailed in Ms. Giuffre's posthumously-published memoir.

In the memoir, Ms Giuffre alleges she had sexual encounters with the prince on multiple times, including one instance with Jeffrey Epstein and "eight other young girls"

Prince Andrew, who reached a out-of-court agreement with Ms Giuffre in 2022, has repeatedly denied any misconduct. In a previous interview, he told BBC Newsnight he did not recall meeting her "at all", and that they "never had any sort of sexual contact."

Fresh Questions Over Finances and Living Arrangements

But recently, fresh questions have been raised about how he is able to finance his lifestyle despite not being a active member of the royal family.

The disclosure that he has only ever paid a nominal fee on his Royal Lodge has intensified the scrutiny over his living arrangements - even though he made significant contributions initially, including for renovations.

The political party said he should be summoned before MPs to give evidence about his rental agreement of his residence.

But last week, the authorities declined to give parliamentarians time to debate the prince's titles or his home, despite growing pressure for scrutiny.

The royal household has not commented on whether Prince Andrew might move out of his home - or where he might reside.

Related Topics

• The Duke of York
• UK Royal Family
• The Monarch