Members of the royal family maintained a composed appearance as they faced protesters during their first joint public outing since the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew, marking Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey.
The King Charles III and his heir, Prince William, were met by demonstrators raising concerns about the former Prince Andrew, also known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, ahead of the milestone service.
Upon entering the iconic venue, the royals were confronted by protesters carrying placards, demanding answers from the King about the scandal surrounding Prince Andrew.
“Charles and William — what did you know about Andrew?” asked Graham Smith, leader of the anti-monarchy group Republic.
Smith added: “It’s a simple question, but one the royals have failed to answer. It’s inconceivable to think that they knew nothing about the allegations against Andrew. We need a Royal Epstein Inquiry now, so we can uncover this cover-up. That’s why Republic will continue protesting at royal events like today, holding the monarchy accountable.”
He further claimed that public support for the monarchy is declining while Republic’s influence is growing, saying it is “now a question of when, not if, the monarchy will be abolished.”
The protests follow Prince Andrew’s arrest over his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. He was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office in relation to his former role as the UK’s trade envoy. The former Duke of York remains under police investigation and continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Protesters called on the royal family to support a full and impartial investigation into Andrew’s conduct.
Notably absent from the Commonwealth Day service were Prince Edward and his wife Duchess Sophie, who were in Italy supporting Team GB at the 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympic Winter Games.
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