King Charles III is facing growing pressure from within the royal family to take stronger action against his brother, Prince Andrew, following renewed scrutiny of the Duke of York's past association with Jeffrey Epstein. Sources close to the palace say Prince William has become increasingly insistent that his uncle be fully removed from royal life to protect the monarchy's reputation amid fresh controversy.
"Given recent revelations, with mounting media outrage threatening the overall reputation of the monarchy, the extended family isn't taking this lightly," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "Prince William is enraged. He is actively lobbying to ensure Andrew is 'completely excluded' from all and any family activities. He is also behind removing titles once he becomes king."
The uproar follows The Guardian's publication of a leaked 2011 email allegedly sent by Prince Andrew to Epstein after the release of a photo showing the royal with his arm around then-teenager Virginia Giuffre. "I'm just as concerned for you! Don't worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it," the email read. "Otherwise keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!!!!"
The message appeared to contradict Andrew's public claim that he severed contact with Epstein in 2010. "Andrew's narrative doesn't match the intercepted emails," broadcaster Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. "The general consensus is he didn't ever attempt to end his friendship with Epstein, indicating that he has continuously lied."
Chard said the revelations have deepened public disapproval of the Duke, describing him as "a damaging distraction to the royal family's dignified role of service." She added, "Prince Andrew's ego reigns supreme. He will stay put until his last breath. His emboldened sense of self feels he has done no wrong. In fact, he sees himself as a devoted practicing Christian."
King Charles, according to royal observers, is caught between preserving institutional stability and confronting a personal family crisis. "There is an expectation that it is King Charles's responsibility to put an end to the Andrew debacle," Chard said. "However, he is not a magician and can't magic him off into thin air."
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment, citing its policy of not speaking for the Duke of York, who "is no longer a working royal." Andrew resigned from public duties in 2019 after a disastrous BBC interview that sought to defend his relationship with Epstein but instead intensified public backlash.
Royal biographer Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, said Andrew and Epstein "bonded over money and sex." He told Fox News Digital, "Andrew gave Epstein respectability and some useful contacts from his role as a special trade envoy... And for Andrew, Epstein provided someone who would pay [Sarah Ferguson's] bills, someone who provided a ready supply of women and also, as he said in the Newsnight interview, had some useful contacts for him."
The scandal has also drawn renewed attention to Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who allegedly referred to Epstein as a "steadfast, generous and supreme friend" in a 2011 email despite earlier condemning him publicly. Her spokesperson later said she had been "taken in by [Epstein's] lies" and acted under pressure to mitigate potential legal threats.
