Britain‘s King Charles III on Monday expressed his “profound concern” about the conduct of his brother, former Prince Andrew.

The British royal family has been coming under increasing scrutiny amid the fallout related to the King’s brother’s ties to the disgraced US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mountbatten-Windsor had his royal titles stripped last year over the scandal.

UK police said its officers were “assessing” new allegations that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may have leaked sensitive trade documents to Epstein.

What did the British royal family say about the police probe into Mountbatten-Windsor?

Buckingham Palace said the King would be “ready to support” police if investigators approached him regarding the latest accusations.

“The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” Buckingham Palace said.

Prince William, Charles’ eldest son and heir to the throne, has also weighed in on the issue. In a statement, William and his wife Princess Catherine said they were “deeply concerned by the continued revelations.”

PM Starmer also under pressure over Epstein files fallout

The Epstein scandal in the UK has widened in recent days after the latest trove of documents were released by the US Justice Department last week.

The scandal is putting mounting pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.

One of the prime minister’s closest advisors, Morgan McSweeney, quit on Sunday, for his role in recommending Mandelson’s appointment.

McSweeney, Starmer’s closest adviser, said he took responsibility for recommending Mandelson’s appointment.

Mandelson was fired from the role in September as more damning evidence of the depth of his ties to Epstein began to emerge.

But the most recently released files have painted a clearer picture still, with the veteran politician now facing a police investigation. 

Scandal could overshadow William’s visit to Saudi Arabia

The scandal is threatening to overshadow William’s trip to Saudi Arabia , which began on Monday.

William met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the first day of his official visit on behalf of the UK government to deepen economic ties, including moving forward on completing a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The British royal family has long enjoyed warm ties with the Saudi royal family, and William’s first visit to the kingdom can add a diplomatic tone and an element of trust as the UK government continues to try and close in on a deal.

The UK and the GCC, which also includes Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, have been negotiating a free trade agreement since 2022.

William’s visit is set to include cultural and environmental programs. The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) released images of Prince Mohammed giving William a private tour of the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site at Diriyah, before the two met privately.

William previously met the crown prince ​in ​March 2018, when he and his father, then-Prince Charles, hosted bin Salman for a dinner at Clarence House in London.

Human rights concerns

Saudi Arabia is a key UK strategic partner in the Gulf region. That partnership has often been criticized over the kingdom’s dark human rights record, with the government having expressed concern in the past.

Addressing human rights concerns in the Gulf region has also been emphasized by rights groups in the UK as negotiations on a free trade agreement continue. 

In 2020, the UK imposed sanctions on 20 Saudi nationals implicated in the 2018 killing of US‑based journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The following year, then-US President Joe Biden released an intelligence report indicating that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved the operation, which Saudi authorities continue to deny.

Diplomatic and economic engagement has continued despite these tensions.

Prime Minister Starmer met the crown prince in Riyadh in December 2024, underscoring ongoing strategic ties. Saudi-UK trade has remained robust, reaching $23.5 billion in goods and services in the year up to June 30, 2025.

Edited by: Karl Sexton