During his state visit to the United States next week, King Charles III will not meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein, according to a letter from lawyers representing King Charles and Queen Camilla in response to a request from Representative Ro Khanna, Democrat of California.
Mr. Khanna had asked Buckingham Palace to arrange a private audience between the monarch and victims of Mr. Epstein who are seeking accountability.
“The king and queen have consistently made clear their support for all victims of abuse, wherever and however perpetrated,” the letter said. It added that because of “ongoing police inquiries” in the United Kingdom, King Charles was “unable to meet survivors or comment directly on the matters under inquiry.”
In Britain, the Epstein scandal has centered on the king’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and his relationship with Mr. Epstein; he was arrested in February over accusations of misconduct in public office and has denied wrongdoing.
Mr. Khanna, who has been among the most vocal advocates in Washington for broader disclosure of records tied to Mr. Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, initially framed the request as a chance for survivors to speak directly to one of the world’s most visible heads of state about the abuse they suffered.
In a letter sent last month, Mr. Khanna wrote: “I respectfully ask that you privately meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s and Ghislaine Maxwell’s abuse, so they may speak to you directly about the ways powerful individuals and institutions failed them.”
King Charles’s refusal to meet with Epstein victims comes ahead of what is planned to be a ceremonial visit marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The king and queen are expected to visit Washington from April 27 to April 30, and participate in a White House state dinner, an address to a joint session of Congress and a series of commemorative events.
Following the arrest of his brother in February, the king has sought to limit his public comments on the case, saying in a statement at the time that “as this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.”
Mr. Khanna said in a statement on Wednesday that he was disappointed and that in his view the decision signaled a reluctance for King Charles to play a role in expressing support for victims of Mr. Epstein’s abuse.
“The British monarchy can be seen as a relic of colonialism and imperialism,” he said, “or it can be a modern force for standing up for women’s rights and human rights.” He added that he hoped the king would reconsider having the meeting or calling for accountability.
Michael Gold contributed reporting.
Robert Jimison covers Congress for The Times, with a focus on defense issues and foreign policy.
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