King Charles was publicly confronted about whether he would pressure police to investigate his brother Prince Andrew during a royal walkabout in Essex, as fresh allegations from the Jeffrey Epstein files continue to shadow the disgraced royal.
Public Confrontation in Quiet Village
During what was meant to be a routine village visit in Dedham, Essex, a man in the crowd shouted directly at the monarch within clear earshot: 'Charles, Charles, have you pressurised the police to start investigating Andrew?' The heckler referenced the ongoing Epstein affair scandal that has plagued Prince Andrew for years.
Essex Police officers immediately approached the individual and escorted him away from the barriers, though authorities later confirmed no arrests were made. The incident occurred as King Charles and Queen Camilla conducted their high street walkabout, meeting local residents and shaking hands with well-wishers.
Village Prepped with Epstein Material
Prior to the royal visit, images from the recently released Epstein files had been distributed around the typically quiet Essex village, setting an unusual backdrop for what would normally be a celebratory community event. Shortly after the initial heckling incident, a news reporter in the crowd attempted to ask the King about his brother, prompting security to guide Charles to the opposite side of the road to continue the engagement away from potential further confrontations.
Mixed Reactions from Local Residents
Adrian Sharpe, a 62-year-old handyman from Dedham who attended the event, described the atmosphere as 'nice and casual really for a village event – obviously high security.' Regarding the heckler, Sharpe commented: 'I think it's pointless really as what Andrew's done is what Andrew's done, it's not what King Charles has done is it? He's his own person.'
Sharpe noted that Prince Andrew had already been stripped of his HRH title, adding: 'What else can they do? Surely it's a police matter now.'
Russell Townsend, a 67-year-old retired health and safety consultant from nearby Stratford St Mary, expressed similar sentiments: 'I must admit today I didn't think of it really. I kind of see it as quite a separate issue really. I just think it is what it is and I can kind of separate the two.'
His daughter Phoebe, 22, was more direct: 'I don't really follow that. I'm just here to see the King. If it was Prince Andrew maybe not, but the King's the King.'
Royal Activities Amid Controversy
Despite the disruption, the royal couple continued with their scheduled engagements. They had earlier visited the Sun Inn pub, where they met local community groups and Camilla tried her hand at cutting ravioli pasta in the kitchen. Later in the walkabout, they listened to a choir of schoolchildren performing in the street and visited the Essex Rose Teahouse, where Charles unveiled a commemorative plaque and cut a ceremonial cake.
Pattern of Public Confrontations
This incident follows a similar confrontation in October when another heckler shouted at the King outside Lichfield Cathedral: 'How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?' followed by: 'Have you asked the police to cover up for Andrew?' That exchange ended with a woman angrily telling the protester to 'shut up.'
Shortly after that previous incident, King Charles made the decisive move to formally strip his younger brother of all remaining royal titles and effectively ostracise him from working royal life, marking a significant break in the traditional royal approach to family scandals.
Andrew's Controversial Relocation
The Essex confrontation comes as Prince Andrew completes his move from Royal Lodge, his Windsor mansion of over twenty years, to the King's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The disgraced royal reportedly slipped out of Windsor under cover of darkness, with removal trucks seen leaving the estate without Andrew being spotted.
He has temporarily settled at Wood Farm cottage on the Sandringham grounds while awaiting completion of renovations at Marsh Farm manor, scheduled for April. However, his arrival has reportedly caused significant disruption, with several staff members refusing to work for him.
Staff Resistance and New Allegations
According to sources, staff working on the Sandringham Estate have been told they can decline to serve Prince Andrew if they feel uncomfortable. 'There is already quite a list saying no thanks,' an insider revealed. 'There is understandably a lot of disquiet as he is now a total pariah. But there is also a worry that once he gets comfortable at Wood Farm while Marsh Farm is being finished, they will never get him out again.'
The staff concerns follow the release of a letter in the latest batch of Epstein documents that alleges Andrew asked an erotic dancer for a threesome at Epstein's Florida home. Meanwhile, the village near Wood Farm has reportedly become a 'media circus' with photographers, television crews, and even a helicopter descending on the normally quiet Norfolk location.
Fresh Police Investigation Links
Prince Andrew now faces connections to a new police investigation into allegations that Epstein sent a second woman to have a sexual encounter with the former prince at Royal Lodge in 2010. The woman, who was in her twenties at the time and is not British, allegedly received a tour of Buckingham Palace afterward, according to Brad Edwards, the lawyer who previously represented Andrew's accuser Virginia Giuffre before her death last year.
Andrew has consistently and strongly denied any wrongdoing regarding his association with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, but the steady stream of allegations and document releases continues to fuel public scrutiny and police interest in his activities during that period.
The Essex walkabout incident demonstrates how public sentiment regarding the Andrew-Epstein connection continues to surface during what would normally be uncontroversial royal engagements, placing additional pressure on the monarchy as it navigates one of the most damaging scandals in recent royal history.
