Overview
- Republic activists entered Buckingham Palace as paying visitors on Monday and unfurled a large image of Prince Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein and a banner reading “What did you know?” in the Throne Room.
- Republic said palace wardens asked the protesters to leave and described on-site security as relatively relaxed, while Buckingham Palace did not comment on the incident.
- Thames Valley Police continue their inquiry into Andrew, who was arrested in February and remains under investigation, and are reported to be preparing to travel to the United States to interview relatives of Epstein’s victims.
- Republic is exploring a private prosecution of Andrew and backed Green MP Sian Berry’s planned bid this week to remove royal exemptions from freedom of information rules.
- The protest builds on long-running public anger over Andrew’s links to Epstein, recalls the 2022 civil settlement by Virginia Giuffre, and risks further reputational damage to the royal household and public trust in its transparency.