Sky Roberts, the brother of the late Virginia Giuffre, has sharply criticized King Charles III for declining to meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse during the monarch's state visit to the United States this week. Speaking at a roundtable discussion hosted by California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, Roberts expressed disappointment that the king did not use the opportunity to demonstrate solidarity with victims.
Survivors 'Still Fighting to Be Heard'
“Survivors are here sitting with members of Congress, still fighting to be heard, still pushing for real accountability, while many of the powerful figures connected to these systems remain just out of reach, unable to acknowledge survivors face to face,” Roberts said. “You would expect this to be a moment for the king to give a message to the world that he stands with survivors.” The roundtable, held ahead of King Charles's address to Congress on Tuesday, included relatives of Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, as well as Epstein survivors Sharlene Rochard and Danielle Bensky, and representatives from human rights and women's rights organizations.
King's Refusal to Meet Survivors
Khanna had sent a letter to King Charles last month, urging him to meet privately with Epstein's victims during his US visit. “I respectfully ask that you privately meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's and Ghislaine Maxwell's abuse, so they may speak to you directly about the ways powerful individuals and institutions failed them,” Khanna wrote. “Survivors want this meeting.” However, a lawyer representing the king and Queen Camilla responded, as reported by the New York Times, stating that Charles would not meet with Epstein's victims, citing “ongoing police inquiries” in the UK. The letter added that the king was “unable to meet survivors or comment directly on the matters under inquiry” but emphasized that “the king and queen have consistently made clear their support for all victims of abuse, wherever and however perpetrated.”
Epstein Scandal's UK Repercussions
The Epstein scandal has had profound implications in the UK, particularly due to the king's younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Giuffre had alleged that Mountbatten-Windsor sexually abused her after she was trafficked by Epstein. He has repeatedly denied these claims. In 2019, he stepped back from royal duties following a controversial BBC interview about his friendship with Epstein. In 2021, Giuffre filed a civil suit, leading to an out-of-court settlement in 2022, with no admission of wrongdoing. Mountbatten-Windsor lost his military roles and royal patronage that year. In February 2025, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office for allegedly sharing confidential material with Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy. He has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged. Following the arrest, King Charles issued a rare public statement saying, “the law must take its course,” adding, “it would not be right for me to comment further.”
Family and Advocates React
Giuffre's family welcomed Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest, stating that their “broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty.” On Tuesday, Khanna said the roundtable aimed to discuss “realities of trafficking and sexual assault, the failures in current systems, and actions Congress can take to better protect survivors and prevent abuse” ahead of the king's remarks to lawmakers. Earlier, Roberts told Sky News that the king's decision not to meet survivors was a “missed opportunity.” He said, “Because even if it's not to go into depths, it means something to look into a survivor's eyes and say: 'I promise to give you a fair and thorough investigation in this and that does not matter if it's my brother or if it's other perpetrators out there. I, the King of England, stand with survivors.'”
