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Expert Reveals The 'Biggest Crisis' Facing Buckingham Palace: 'The Royals Must Be Worried'

King Charles III shelters under an umbrella as he meets members of the public; (Inset) Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attends the Duchess of Kent's funeral (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)
King Charles III shelters under an umbrella as he meets members of the public; (Inset) Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attends the Duchess of Kent's funeral (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)
Feb. 21 2026, Updated 10:01 AM. ET
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Once a respected senior royal, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, had the greatest downfall of the century after his arrest, owing to his ties to the convicted financier, Jeffrey Epstein. The entire world is raising fingers at the monarchy and for an institution build solely on trust, ambiguity and respect, this was a massive blow. However, the downfall is not only Mountbatten-Windsor's but also for King Charles III, who is also getting dragged through it all.

King Charles III attends the dedication ceremony for a new memorial to the Armed Forces LGBT+ community at the National Memorial Arboretum on October 27, 2025 in Alrewas, Staffordshire. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
King Charles III attends the dedication ceremony for a new memorial to the Armed Forces LGBT+ community at the National Memorial Arboretum on October 27, 2025 in Alrewas, Staffordshire (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

Charles had to face several heckle episodes and questions, pushing him to release an official statement after his brother's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Royal experts call his scandal catastrophic, as nothing related to the royal family ever gets erased from the memories of people. They know that Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest will haunt the monarchy forever, and in ways is also the King's biggest challenge to not only protect the institution but also to maintain their collapsing legacy.

Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner, in a conversation with Fox News Digital, opined that this is Charles's biggest test of his reign. He said, "This is the biggest crisis facing Buckingham Palace and the royal family," he said. "It’s a major blow to the monarchy, driven by the anti-monarchist group Republic, which pressed police to open an investigation." Elaborating on the royal family's inner turmoil, he added, "Behind the scenes, the royals must be extremely worried that more damaging information could leak, and that Andrew might reveal secrets about The Firm to seek leniency if the case goes to court." 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is seen returning after leaving police custody, following his arrest on February 19, 2026, in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Image Source: Getty Images | Peter Nichols)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is seen returning after leaving police custody, following his arrest on February 19, 2026, in Sandringham, Norfolk (Image Source: Getty Images | Peter Nichols)

Turner also shared that the King is reportedly "tense" with all things exploding and him putting his best foot forward to manage his royal duties. However, Mountbatten-Windsor is still a time bomb waiting to explode anytime soon. "His police protection team once nicknamed him ‘Blabbermouth,’ because he talked about everything," revealed Turner. He can be the ultimate doom for the royals, and even Prince William is fuming over the power his uncle holds at the point. 

Prince William, Prince of Wales and King Charles III walk behind Queen Elizabeth II's coffin. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)
Prince William, Prince of Wales and King Charles III walk behind Queen Elizabeth II's coffin (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

"This whole saga could bring the monarchy down, leaving William furious regarding his own future," shared Turner. He concluded, saying, "Britain is listening intensely to the drip-feeding of sex allegations. It could be one of the main reasons why William took a PR troubleshooter onto his staff to deal with matters like this." While what's next to unfold is still unknown, one thing is for sure: the monarchy is set to be marked for life, thanks to Mountbatten-Windsor's ties to Epstein!

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