For weeks, Buckingham Palace said nothing as renewed attention swirled around Prince Andrew’s name following the release of long-sealed court documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein. The silence itself became a statement, fueling speculation about how deeply the controversy was rattling the royal family. Now, King Charles has finally responded, and his words are being parsed with extraordinary care.

The comments came quietly, without a press conference or dramatic address. According to palace sources, the king addressed the issue during a private meeting with senior advisers, making clear that the monarchy intends to keep firm distance between the institution and the allegations resurfacing around his younger brother. The message was restrained, but unmistakable.

Charles reportedly emphasized that the legal documents do not represent new accusations or findings against Andrew, but rather recycled material from civil litigation that has already played out in public view. Even so, the king acknowledged the damage that renewed headlines can inflict, particularly as the monarchy continues to rebuild trust following years of turbulence.

The newly unsealed files stem from a defamation lawsuit involving Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell and include references to numerous high-profile figures. While Andrew has long denied wrongdoing and was never criminally charged, his name’s reappearance reignited public anger that many believed had cooled after his costly settlement with Virginia Giuffre in 2022.