Anti-monarchy activists protest inside Buckingham Palace over Andrew and Epstein

Anti-monarchy activists in Britain staged a protest inside Buckingham Palace to draw attention to what they called unanswered questions about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Demonstrators from the group Republic unfurled a large image of King Charles III's brother with Epstein in the palace's throne room. They also displayed a smaller banner asking, "what did you know?" The state rooms at the central London palace are open to visitors each year from early July to late September.

Republic chief executive Graham Smith said the activists had taken questions about Andrew to what he called the symbolic home of the monarchy. He said the palace should make a full disclosure and said the government should act if it did not.

The protest came days after UK media reported that police examining sexual misconduct claims against Andrew, linked to his ties to Epstein, may travel to the United States to speak with relatives of an accuser. Thames Valley Police are believed to want to speak to the brother and sister-in-law of the late Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew in the UK when she was a teenager.

Andrew settled a US civil lawsuit brought by Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability. Thames Valley Police, which covers the area including the royal Windsor estate west of London, arrested him in February after new revelations connected to his Epstein ties. He was released on bail and has consistently denied wrongdoing.

Epstein died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Thames Valley Police had initially been investigating alleged misconduct in public office after accusations that Andrew shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UK's trade envoy. In May, the force confirmed that it was open to investigating sexual misconduct claims.

The allegations involving Andrew, the second of the late Queen Elizabeth II's three sons, have increased scrutiny of him and the monarchy, including its finances. AFP reported that King Charles III stripped his younger brother of his titles last year.