King Charles will not sit down with Jeffrey Epstein's victims during his upcoming state visit to the United States, Buckingham Palace has confirmed, rebuffing a request from a prominent congressman.
Representative Ro Khanna sought to arrange a private meeting between the monarch and survivors of the financier's abuse ahead of the royal's planned trip next week. The California Democrat's bid to facilitate the encounter was declined by palace officials.
The decision leaves unanswered questions about the palace's reasoning and whether concerns about litigation or reputational risk factored into the rejection. Khanna had hoped to use the state visit as an opportunity to elevate the voices of victims who have long sought acknowledgment from high-profile figures connected to Epstein's crimes.
The rebuff marks a notable moment in the post-Epstein reckoning, when prominent institutions and individuals have faced mounting pressure to engage directly with survivors rather than distance themselves from the scandal. The meeting would have been unprecedented in its formal nature, bringing victims face-to-face with a sitting monarch in an official capacity.
Charles's visit proceeds without the planned encounter, setting the stage for a state visit focused on traditional bilateral matters between the U.S. and United Kingdom rather than confrontation with a darkening chapter in the orbits of both nations' elites.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "The palace's refusal to create space for these conversations sends a clear message about where the monarchy's priorities lie, and it's not with the people Epstein hurt."
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