The family of Virginia Giuffre has urged Britain’s monarch to meet with survivors of sexual abuse while he visits the United States later this month, saying the timing of the trip coincides closely with the anniversary of Giuffre’s death.
In a statement provided to media outlets, Sky and Amanda Roberts said they expected King Charles to meet survivors and listen to their accounts during the state visit scheduled for April 27 to 30. They noted the visit will occur two days after the one-year anniversary of Giuffre taking her own life.
"We strongly urge King Charles to meet with us and survivors and hear what we have to say," the Roberts siblings said. They added: "We are thankful to him for heeding our sister’s allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and for his decisive action in stripping his brother from his position as a prince."
Buckingham Palace did not respond to a request for comment on the family’s appeal. Palace spokespeople have previously indicated that the king could not become involved while investigations tied to sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and members of his circle remain ongoing.
Giuffre had accused the late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein of trafficking her to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor when she was 17. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied the accusations. In 2022 he reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre without admitting any wrongdoing, and he has said he had no recollection of meeting her.
The state visit by Charles and his wife Queen Camilla is timed to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and runs from April 27 to April 30. The trip comes as British officials aim to steady relations with U.S. President Donald Trump following tensions over the Iran war, a context that places additional focus on the monarch’s activities in Washington.
Following renewed attention to Mountbatten-Windsor’s association with Epstein, the king took steps to remove his brother from public duties, removing military roles, patronages and the use of his royal titles. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with allegations that he passed confidential documents to Epstein; he has denied any wrongdoing.
The Roberts siblings said they hoped a direct meeting with the king would open lines of communication between survivors and the British government, potentially prompting action against individuals they describe as Epstein’s co-conspirators. Buckingham Palace has previously expressed the royal family's "thoughts and utmost sympathies" for victims and survivors of abuse.
Context and next steps
The Roberts family’s appeal places the royal visit under renewed scrutiny, with survivors and their relatives seeking direct engagement from the monarch. How Buckingham Palace responds may affect public perceptions of the royal household’s handling of allegations linked to Epstein and his associates during a high-profile diplomatic mission to Washington.
For now, the palace’s public position remains that the king cannot intervene while related investigations continue. The state visit will proceed as scheduled, and observers will be watching whether the king agrees to meet survivors or maintain a distance pending the outcome of ongoing inquiries.