Protesters Confront Royals Over Andrew Epstein Links at Westminster Abbey
Anti-monarchy protesters disrupted a Commonwealth Day service at London's Westminster Abbey today, directing pointed questions at King Charles and Prince William regarding Prince Andrew's associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The demonstrators, organized by the group Republic, shouted "What did you know about Andrew?" as the royal family entered the historic venue for the annual event.
Heckling and Banners Target Royal Family
The protest marked the largest gathering of royals since Prince Andrew's arrest last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Republic members waved flags and held banners reading "Done with the crown" and "Not my king" while chanting "Charlie, Charlie, time to go" at the monarch. Some protesters displayed signs featuring photographs of Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who previously sued the former royal for sexual assault.
King Charles and Queen Camilla faced booing from the crowd as they arrived at the abbey, where they were joined by Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Princess Anne for the Commonwealth Day observance. The demonstration continued throughout the event, with protesters demanding accountability from the royal family regarding their knowledge of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's connections to Epstein.
Republic CEO Questions Royal Knowledge
Republic CEO Graham Smith issued a statement following the protest, emphasizing the simplicity yet significance of the questions being asked. "Charles and William – what did you know about Andrew? It's a simple question, but one the royals have failed to answer," Smith declared. "It's inconceivable to think that they knew nothing about the allegations against Andrew."
This incident follows a similar protest in October where a Republic member heckled King Charles with the question: "How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?" The organization has intensified its efforts following the release of thousands of documents from the Epstein files, which included photographs appearing to show Prince Andrew in compromising positions.
International Pressure Mounts
The protest occurred against a backdrop of growing international pressure regarding Prince Andrew's status. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney this weekend called for Andrew's removal from the line of succession over what he described as "deplorable" accusations. Australia has made similar demands, with officials stating the country takes the "grave allegations seriously."
Prince Andrew currently remains eighth in line to the throne. Removing him would require new legislation, approval from all fourteen Commonwealth realms, and consent from King Charles as head of state. The former Duke of York was arrested last month and questioned for eleven hours at a police station on his sixty-sixth birthday before being released pending further investigation.
Royal Response and Commonwealth Message
Despite the disruption, King Charles addressed the Commonwealth Day gathering, emphasizing the organization's importance in an "increasingly fragmented" world. He described the Commonwealth as "precious" and called for collective efforts to improve the lives of billions across member nations.
The protest highlights ongoing tensions between the monarchy and anti-royal activists, particularly regarding accountability and transparency in the wake of the Epstein scandal. Republic's demonstration at Westminster Abbey represents one of the most direct confrontations between protesters and the royal family since Prince Andrew's legal troubles began.
