The Prime Minister has declined to say whether he believes the King should meet the victims of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during next month’s state visit.
US congressman Ro Khanna and the family of Virginia Giuffre have called on Charles to meet with survivors during his visit to the US in late April.
Sir Keir Starmer declined to say whether there was a “moral case” for the King to meet the victims when asked by reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister instead insisted the “focus of the visit” will be on the 250th anniversary of American independence.
He said: “In relation to the King, I think it’s important to appreciate this is part of the 250 celebrations.
“It’s a long-planned visit, and the US and UK are close allies, have been for a very, very long time.”
It is understood that the King and Queen will not be able to meet with victims while there are ongoing UK police investigations into matters related to Epstein.
Sky Roberts, Ms Giuffre’s brother, and Amanda Roberts, Ms Giuffre’s sister-in-law, who previously thanked Charles for “standing behind survivors” following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest in February, “strongly” urged him to meet with them.
In a statement to BBC Newsnight on Tuesday evening, they said they were “hopeful that conversation with survivors and their families will continue to elicit decisive action from the British Government against the co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein”.
“King Charles III’s visit will come at a deeply personal time for our family,” the statement said.
“His arrival comes just two days after the one-year anniversary of the death of our beloved sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
“We strongly urge King Charles to meet with us and survivors and hear what we have to say. We are thankful to him for heeding our sister’s allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and for his decisive action in stripping his brother from his position as a prince.
“Amanda and I are hopeful that conversation with survivors and their families will continue to elicit decisive action from the British government against the co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein.
“Virginia spent her life fighting to hold these predators accountable; it is in her memory that we encourage the king to speak with us and survivors, and continue pursuing justice across the United Kingdom.”
The late Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, accused Andrew of sexual abuse, which he vehemently denies.
Ro Khanna, a Democrat US congressman, wrote to the King on Monday, also calling for him to meet survivors privately during the state visit.
Andrew, the former Duke of York, and Lord Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US, were arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections with the paedophile financier.
They have since been released under investigation.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced on Tuesday that the police response to the release of the so-called Epstein files by the US Department of Justice is to be “stepped up”.
A dedicated group will look at the “scale, scope and nature of any potential UK-based VAWG (violence against women and girls) offending within the files”, the NPCC added.
It has also invited alleged victims of Epstein who have spoken to UK media to talk to investigators about potential crimes that may have taken place on British soil.
President Donald J. Trump announces Their Majesties, the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, will visit the United States for a Historic State Visit from April 27-30th. pic.twitter.com/dMFwwNp4rI
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 31, 2026
Charles and Camilla’s long-expected historic trip is scheduled to proceed despite calls for it to be postponed or even cancelled because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
US president Donald Trump declared the trip will be a “momentous occasion” in a post on his Truth Social site, adding that there would be “a beautiful Banquet Dinner” at the White House on the evening of April 28.
He also revealed the “historic state visit” will take place over four days from April 27-30, despite Buckingham Palace deciding not to release the exact dates in its own official announcement.
“I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!”, Mr Trump added.
The Palace tour announcement came on the day the Duke of Sussex was in Washington to deliver a keynote speech at the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) global summit on privacy, AI governance and cyber security law.
Harry used his speech to stress the importance of safeguarding humanity as the digital world evolves, telling those in attendance: “We can invest in human-centred technology led by human-centred leadership.”
The King’s youngest son lives on the US West Coast with his wife the Duchess of Sussex and the King’s youngest grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
But Harry will not travel to Washington DC to see his father during his stay, a source to the duke said.
Charles, who is still being treated for cancer, and Harry last met face-to-face six months ago, and the King last saw Archie and Lili in person nearly four years ago.
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