The King was heckled by members of the public about his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, during an official visit to Essex on Thursday.

One man was heard to ask whether the King had urged the police to investigate Andrew. Charles did not appear to hear the question, which was shouted during a walkabout with the Queen.

Another person was heard to ask whether the royal family would help with the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the paedophile financier who was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019.

The King and Queen were in Dedham, near Colchester, showing their support for the village pub and tea shop. They were greeted by hundreds of members of the public, who lined the high street armed with umbrellas against the rain.

Among those waving Union flags was a man who shouted questions about the Epstein scandal. The King did not reply, having continued down the line of people, shaking hands. Police officers spoke to the protester and, as he turned and left, thanked him for moving on.

As the King and Queen arrived, a television reporter was heard to shout a question about Epstein, which went unanswered.

Adrian Sharpe, 62, a handyman from Dedham, was in the crowd. He described the event as “nice and casual really for a village event — obviously high security”.

King Charles was met by a town crier during his visit to Dedham

ARTHUR EDWARDS/THE SUN/PA WIRE

Asked about the heckler, he said: “I think it’s pointless really as what Andrew’s done is what Andrew’s done, it’s not what King Charles has done. They’ve taken the HRH off of Andrew. What else can they do? Surely it’s a police matter now.”

Before the royals arrived, dozens of pieces of paper bearing a black and white copy of an image of Andrew were scattered around the village.

Flyers were scattered on the pavement

The image, one of those released on Friday by the US Department of Justice, appears to show Andrew kneeling over a woman lying on the floor of what seems to be Epstein’s New York townhouse. On the back of the flyers was written: “The royal family should not be above the law.” Residents, including councillors, cleared the flyers away before the King and Queen arrived.

This image was released at the weekend

US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Palace sources have said that the picture’s publication at the weekend expedited Andrew’s departure from his home at Royal Lodge to new accommodation on the King’s Sandringham estate.

At Royal Lodge, Andrew’s staff were reported to be “on strike”. It is understood that the King has made clear there will be neither room nor funds for Andrew to relocate them.

The royal family now hopes to get on with what courtiers described as the “day job”, although the Dedham walkabout was the second time in recent weeks family members had been subjected to heckling about Andrew.

• How photos of smiling Andrew ended the ‘siege of Royal Lodge’

During a visit to Scotland last month, a man shouted to the Prince and Princess of Wales: “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein? Have you been covering up for Andrew?”

The Palace will be pleased with Thursday’s engagement for the King and Queen, which looked like any other royal visit — complete with constant drizzle that provided the King with sufficient material for small talk.

The King met Dedham’s community heroes

ARTHUR EDWARDS/THE SUN/PA WIRE

When the King and Queen arrived at the Sun Inn, where they wished to show their support for local pubs, Piers Baker, the landlord, told the King, “we heard you like martinis” and presented him with a ready-mixed cocktail in a bottle to take home.

The King and Queen met “community heroes” from organisations ranging from a local domestic abuse charity to a money confidence programme, environmental and wildlife charities and a vineyard. The King was heard asking questions about hops, earthworms and types of wine.

The Queen, asked to help make ricotta cheese and lemon zest ravioli, was offered an apron and joked that she was better placed than her husband to lend a hand in the kitchen.

• JD Vance adds to pressure on Andrew to testify on Epstein

“I’d only make a terrible mess,” the King agreed. Camilla said: “He’s best off making a martini.”

Charles may feel he needs a martini after the revelations about his brother.