New Poll Reveals What Majority of People Think King Charles Should Do About Andrew
The shadow of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to loom over Buckingham Palace, and according to a new poll, the British public believes it is time for King Charles to take a firmer hand with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. As per a YouGov poll commissioned by Sky News, an overwhelming 82% of respondents believe the monarch should encourage his disgraced brother to testify to the US authorities. Interestingly, only 6% felt Charles should stay silent on the matter.
The poll, the first of its kind since the latest document dump by the US Department of Justice, suggests that the public sees the ongoing controversy not just as a legal matter, but as a moral test for the monarch.
While the former Prince has consistently denied any wrongdoing, the court of public opinion has ruled its decision. Amid the ongoing tensions, Buckingham Palace has released a statement stating the King's ‘profound concern’ regarding the conduct surrounding his brother. Furthermore, the Palace has gone on record stating it would ‘support’ the police if approached over claims about the former Duke’s ties with the disgraced financier. While Charles has already taken the unprecedented step of stripping Mountbatten-Windsor of his titles, patronages, and finally Royal Lodge, as per the poll, the public feels the Firm should further distance itself from the ex-Prince.
The former Duke has temporarily moved to Wood Farm Cottage, a property on the King’s private Norfolk estate, while Marsh Farm – widely tipped to be his permanent residence – undergoes refurbishments, a move that satisfies the 45% of people who think the King has done enough. In contrast, about 39% of voters believe he should be doing more to separate the Royal Family from the scandal. Additionally, 63% feel he should take a step further and remove the former Prince from the Sandringham Estate, while 16% think he should stay.
The stakes extend beyond the gates of Royal Lodge. For many, the handling of the Epstein fallout is a referendum on the modern monarchy’s relevance and integrity. The poll also revealed that about 35% of the respondents believe Charles should offer an official apology to the disgraced financier’s victims – something that royal expert Emily Nash doesn’t agree with. Speaking to HELLO!, in the wake of Prince William and Princess Kate’s statement on the issue, she argued that the weight of a public apology lies solely with Mountbatten-Windsor, not the King or, by extension, William. “Like most of us, they're learning about these allegations in real time, so it's a developing situation,” she observed, adding, “But surely the person who needs to apologize and take responsibility for this whole situation is Andrew himself.”
For now, the King is making it clear that Mountbatten-Windsor is now ‘on his own,’ devoid of the protective royal bubble. Talking to PEOPLE, expert Russell Myers observed, “By referring to the former Duke of York as Mr. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in public and expressing that he is purely a private citizen is a clear indication that Andrew is on his own and will no longer be protected by the royal family, by the institution.”