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During a visit to Lichfield Cathedral on the start of the week, King Charles was heckled by a individual who asked him about his brother's links with convicted sex offender Epstein.

The man inquired how long the monarch had been known about his brother's relationship with Epstein, and also raised doubts about whether he had instructed the authorities to "hide" for Andrew.

Despite the protest, there were large groups of well-wishers and cheers for the monarch, who was in the region for an ceremony.

The Duke of York's associations with Jeffrey Epstein have been under close examination in the past few weeks. The prince, who relinquished his royal duties earlier this month, has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

"How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein? Did you request the authorities to cover up for him?"

The King ignored the questions but carried on greeting supporters, some of whom chanted "Long live the King". One supporter can be heard requesting him for a hug.

A female bystander outside the venue was also observed telling the heckler to "go away" and to "shut up".

Scandal Revived by Memoir

The controversy over the Duke of York's connections to Epstein has been reignited by sexual abuse claims repeated in Virginia Giuffre's posthumously-published book.

In the publication, the accuser claims she had sex with the royal on three separate occasions, including one instance with Jeffrey Epstein and "eight other young girls"

Andrew, who reached a out-of-court agreement with the plaintiff in 2022, has repeatedly denied any misconduct. In 2019, he told a news program he did not remember meeting her "ever", and that they "did not have any sort of sexual contact."

New Inquiries Over Lifestyle and Living Arrangements

But recently, fresh questions have been raised about how he is able to fund his lifestyle despite not being a working royal.

The revelation that he has only ever paid a nominal fee on his Royal Lodge has intensified the scrutiny over his housing situation - even though he made significant contributions up front, including for renovations.

The political party said he should be summoned front of members of parliament to give testimony about his lease of his lodge.

But last Thursday, the authorities refused to give parliamentarians time to debate the royal's status or his home, despite growing pressure for investigation.

Buckingham Palace has not issued a statement on whether the Duke of York might move out of his home - or where he might go.

Related Topics

• The Duke of York
• UK Royal Family
• The Monarch