Epstein saga casts shadow over King Charles visit to US

The controversies surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein threaten to cast a long shadow over King Charles III’s upcoming visit to the U.S., his first American state visit since becoming monarch. The purpose of the king and Queen Camilla’s visit is primarily diplomatic, planned to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. But as the monarchy continues to grapple with the fallout of Epstein-related disclosures, the royals’ visit could be overshadowed by questions about former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and former United Kingdom Ambassador Peter Mandelson’s past ties to the disgraced financier. Their six-day visit is set to begin on Monday in Washington, with stops in New York City and Virginia to follow. Their official itinerary includes an address to a joint session of Congress delivered by Charles on Tuesday, followed by a state dinner hosted by President Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the White House, among other activities. What will likely not be on the schedule, however, is a private meeting between Charles and survivors of Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year federal sentence at a low-security prison camp in Texas. There have been calls for the king to have a private audience with the victims, including from the family of Virginia Giuffre and Rep. …