William and Kate Heckled Over Andrew Saga in Scotland: 'Have You Been Covering Up?'

Public heckling has followed senior royals on recent engagements as outrage over Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's past ties to Jeffrey Epstein runs high. The most recent incident unfolded in Scotland, where Prince William and Kate Middleton were confronted by a member of the public during what was otherwise a warm reception, echoing scenes involving King Charles elsewhere in the country.

During the final engagement for the day, in Scotland, the royal couple arrived at a community pub in the former mining village of Fallin after visiting Stirling earlier. Amidst the crowd gathering to cheer them on, one man shouted, “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein? Have you been covering up for Andrew?” As per the Express, the individual was quickly silenced by other members of the public, while security officers stepped in, asking him to calm down. The couple did not respond and continued with their visit as planned.

They entered the Gothenburg pub, named after a Swedish tradition in which profits are funneled back into the local community. Scotland once had around 50 so-called 'Goth' pubs, but that number has come down to just four. It has made the venue a notable example of community ownership. Inside, Middleton said no to having a drink as she sat down with local schoolteachers, while William asked for half a pint of cider. Speaking with local men, including publican Rob Donaldson, 57, William listened as they described how the pub serves as a community hub, with activities that don’t revolve around drinking. William remarked, “I’ve grown up in pubs. I absolutely love pubs.”

As the visit continued, William was told about the banter and 'slagging off' that can go on between friends, which made him laugh. In response, he joked, “A bit of slagging off – we all need that occasionally. It brings us back down to earth.” On the other table, Middleton was presented with a crochet bunny for her daughter, Princess Charlotte, by Adhele Hodgson, who sells her creations to raise money for a local hospice center. The royal said, “She [Charlotte] will absolutely love that. She’s got lots of teddies on her bed. Well done, that must have taken a long time. Thank you so much.” As the couple left, Middleton also received a bouquet of flowers, while William received a Guinness glass engraved with the pub’s logo. Inside, there was also a scroll, granting him 10 shares in the pub, leading him to say, “It’s just made my day. It’s made my year.” 

The confrontation in Scotland had followed a similar moment earlier in the day involving the King, as pressure continues to mount on the monarchy over the 'Andrew saga'. During his visit to Lichfield Cathedral, a protestor threw a bunch of intense questions at the monarch, including, “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?” The circulating video is believed to have been filmed by the protestor himself as he asked twice, “Have you asked the police to cover up for Andrew?” But the King continued to shake hands with well-wishers and waved as the man shouted, while a woman in the crowd eventually turned around and told him to “shut up.”