When King Charles speaks, historian Owens says that the “elephant in the room” will be the Epstein scandal, with members of Congress having called on Mountbatten-Windsor to testify and for the King to meet Epstein survivors.
Sky Roberts, the brother of the late Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was sexually assaulted by Mountbatten-Windsor three times after being trafficked by Epstein, told the BBC’s Newsnight programme he needed the King “to stand up and show his unity with survivors”.
Roberts said he and his wife Amanda wanted to meet the King for 10 minutes, and would be “lobbying” for it by going to places they expected him to visit.
“This is a very big deal here in the United States, and it’s a very big deal to survivors around the world that he set a precedent” for other world leaders to follow, Sky Roberts said.
Giuffre’s sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, said they did not have to go “deep into conversation” given the potential complications of impeding investigations.
“It’s an olive branch that we’re looking for. It’s the symbolism of it. Acknowledgement, shaking the hand and looking us in the face and saying, ‘I will continue on my promise to honour a fair trial. I will support the investigations. And I’m sorry that all these survivors have waited so long for justice.’ I think it’s that simple.”
Mountbatten-Windsor, who has denied all claims against him, reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022 which contained no admission of liability or apology.
Trump might also not want any reminders of the Epstein scandal during the visit.
Lownie thinks there could be heckles or protests along the way about Epstein, but the King has the capacity to reach out to the US public and to revive a deeper partnership. “The roots of the tree are still there,” he says of the UK and US alliance.
Royal visits are important in leaving an impression. Queen Elizabeth II’s easy relationship with Ronald Reagan seemed to be summed up in pictures of them riding together in 1982. Or there was the diplomatic choreography of Princess Diana and John Travolta dancing together in 1985.