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In the course of a visit to Lichfield Cathedral on Monday, King Charles was confronted by a protester who questioned him about his brother's links with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The individual demanded to know how long the King had been aware about his sibling's association with Epstein, and also questioned whether he had asked the police to "conceal" for Prince Andrew.

Despite the heckling, there were crowds of well-wishers and cheers for the King, who was visiting the region for an engagement.

The Duke of York's connections with Epstein have been under intense scrutiny in the past few weeks. The royal, who gave up his royal duties earlier this month, has categorically denied any misconduct.

"How long have you been aware about Prince Andrew and Epstein? Did you request the police to cover up for him?"

The King remained silent but carried on meeting supporters, some of whom chanted "Long live the King". One fan can be overheard requesting him for a hug.

A female bystander outside the venue was also observed telling the protester to "go away" and to "be quiet".

Scandal Reignited by Posthumous Publication

The scandal over Prince Andrew's links to Epstein has been brought back into focus by misconduct claims detailed in Virginia Giuffre's recently released memoir.

In the publication, Ms Giuffre claims she had sexual encounters with the prince on multiple times, including once with Epstein and "eight other young girls"

Andrew, who reached a financial settlement with Ms Giuffre in recent years, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In 2019, he told a news program he did not recall meeting Ms Giuffre "ever", and that they "never had any sort of intimate relations."

New Inquiries Over Lifestyle and Living Arrangements

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

The disclosure that he has only ever paid a token annual rent on his Royal Lodge has heightened the scrutiny over his housing situation - even though he made significant contributions up front, including for improvements.

The Liberal Democrats said he should be summoned front of MPs to give testimony about his rental agreement of his lodge.

But last week, the government declined to give MPs time to discuss the royal's titles or his residence, despite increasing calls for investigation.

Buckingham Palace has not commented on whether Prince Andrew might relocate of his home - or where he might reside.

Related Topics

• Prince Andrew
• British Monarchy
• The Monarch