Major update on King Charles’s US state visit issued | Royal | News
King Charles and Queen Camilla will reportedly not be able to meet the survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during their state visit to the US next month. The update came after a senior US politician called on the monarch to meet the victims when she arrives for her historic visit at the end of next month.
Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who last year co-sponsored a bill forcing the US Department of Justice to release the Epstein files, wrote to Her Majesty and asked her to meet privately with the victims to find out how “powerful individuals and institutions failed them.” In his letter to the King on Monday, Mr Khanna wrote: “I respectfully ask you to meet privately with the survivors of abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell so they can speak to you directly about how powerful individuals and institutions have failed them.”
The monarch’s trip to the USA, which coincided with the 250th anniversary of the American Independence, turned into controversy after the Iran war launched by the USA and Israel on February 28. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken out about what he perceives as Sir Keir Starmer’s weak support for the US military operation in Iran.
While it was reported that the King and Queen would not be able to meet the victims of the sex offender during this visit, the palace did not rule out the possibility of a meeting in the future. Recently Their Royal Highnesses have released a number of statements showing their support for victims of sexual abuse.
Following the news that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had been stripped of his royal titles and evicted from his home, the King and Queen issued a stunning statement with the last line saying: “Their Royal Highnesses wish to make it clear that their thoughts and deepest sympathies are with, and remain with, the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse.”
Andrew continues to deny any wrongdoing.
The King and Queen’s visit to the US celebrates the historical links and modern bilateral relations between the two countries. This follows Trump’s unprecedented second state visit to Windsor Castle in September.
The visit’s schedule has not yet been announced, but it is expected to include most of the usual elements of a US visit to the White House, including a formal banquet with honor guards and speeches.
King Charles was also asked to address both houses of the US Congress; this was the first speech by a British monarch in more than 30 years. Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth was the last British monarch to speak in Washington DC during a 12-day state visit as the guest of President George H. W. Bush in 1991.
The visit will be the King’s first state visit to the United States as monarch and his 20th state visit to the country. He had previously visited the United States 19 times as Prince of Wales; This included their first official tour after their wedding in 2005, which included the then-Duchess of Cornwall.
