ROBERT JOBSON: Why royal Epstein debacle has now hit Kate and William

Having written on the Prince Andrew saga for years, I can say for certain that the pressure now facing King Charles feels very different.

This is no longer a scandal the Palace can manage by keeping its distance or maintaining its silence.

The victims of Jeffrey Epstein are rightly demanding accountability, and are far from silent. Their voices were amplified at the Super Bowl championship in the US on Sunday in an advertisement demanding the release of all the remaining files. It is America’s biggest TV event of the year and watched by hundreds of millions. Momentum has changed.

William and Kate publicly seemed to have acknowledged this today. Except they didn’t actually speak themselves. A Kensington Palace spokesman in Riyadh, hoping no doubt that the Epstein scandal won’t dominate his boss’s official visit to Saudi Arabia, did the talking. ‘The Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims,’ he said.

It was a carbon copy of a previous statement, by the King and Queen. Vague. Evasive. No mention of Andrew himself.

Public reaction to their statement has been swift and, at times, scathing. Some online comments talked of a ‘cover-up’, others remarked that words like ‘deep concern’ mean nothing.

There are those who argue that William, as heir to the throne, is at least addressing this huge problem by breaking his silence.

And yet the statement William and Kate put out feels hollow given the gravity and reach of this abuse scandal that engulfs the mega-rich and social and political elite.

It smacks not of leadership, but damage control.

To his credit, Prince Edward also addressed the issue last week in Dubai.

No spokesman. No carefully calibrated statement, he replied off the cuff. When a CNN reporter asked him directly, he responded: ‘It’s really important to remember the victims.’

At least he talked about it in person, but it still was not enough.

The truth is the royals have to get a grip on this. The public clamour for an apology is growing ­— and for an apology that specifically mentions Andrew.

The Press statement from Kensington Palace will not keep the public at bay.

William is furious, so we are told, over the behaviour of his disgraced uncle. The release of the files has brutally exposed how Andrew lied about his sordid activities and his links to Epstein, and William is said to be disgusted by it all.

So why does he not tell the nation what he feels about his uncle, and apologise on behalf of the royals? Instead, we get corporate PR speak.

People are rightly growing frustrated at the lack of transparency and accountability at the heart of our Establishment, whether it is the royals, politicians, or the church. The truth has to be dragged out of them.

Surely our intelligence services had a handle on Epstein and some understanding of what Andrew was up to? His Scotland Yard protection officers would keep logs of where he was at all times. Shouldn’t those logs be made public?

Everyone who was party to any knowledge, it seems, has been afraid to say anything because of the fear of repercussions.

But silence is serving no one. Yesterday, it emerged the police are now assessing claims that Andrew leaked confidential information to Epstein while he was trade envoy in 2010.

The information reportedly contains details of his official visits to countries in South East Asia and the police were alerted to it by the anti-monarchy group Republic.

Then, today, came a development that marks a genuine shift in tone from Buckingham Palace. Thames Valley Police confirmed they are formally assessing the claims concerning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor regarding the alleged sharing of confidential data.

A Palace spokesperson issued a statement that, for the first time, acknowledged the King's personal position with absolute clarity: 'The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor's conduct.'

The statement continued: 'While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect. As was previously stated, Their Majesties' thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.'

This is significant. Charles has moved beyond vague expressions of concern. By referring to 'unprecedented actions' - a clear nod to stripping Andrew of his titles and roles - and explicitly naming his brother as 'Mr Mountbatten-Windsor' rather than 'Prince Andrew,' the King is drawing a line.

More importantly, the Palace has committed itself to cooperating with the police if approached. That is not damage control. That is accountability.

This statement represents the strongest public position Charles has taken yet.

The King is understandably frustrated. He is not at fault here. But as boss of the institution, the buck stops with him.

Everywhere he goes in public these days, he is heckled. The King was targeted at Clitheroe station in Lancashire today when a man shouted, “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?” during a visit.

Last week in Dedham, Essex, one shouted: ‘Charles, have you pressurised the police to start investigating Andrew?’

At Lichfield Cathedral in October, the same questions. These might be gimmicks by members of Republic as it campaigns to abolish the monarchy but the momentum currently is all one way: the monarchy’s approval ratings have plummeted.

I have reported on the royals for 35 years, and there have been many scandals and crises.

I wasn’t around when Edward VIII quit, but this is beginning to feel like the biggest crisis since the abdication.

It might also be time to acknowledge that the late Queen bears some fault, for this didn’t start on Charles’s watch.

Her late Majesty was perhaps blinded by her love for her favourite son and by his lies. Whatever the case, she should have demanded a proper investigation into his antics.

She paid millions to help settle a civil case rather than demand Andrew face his accusers. Was that cheque legally expedient? Did she know it was helping a cover-up?

Charles and William are now left with the consequences.

Behind the scenes we are hearing of the Royal Family’s concerns for Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s mental frame of mind. This must be considered, of course.

Read More

ROBERT JOBSON: How Prince Edward enacted revenge against his 'bullying brother' Andrew

But what about the mental states of Epstein’s victims, the ones who are still alive –unlike tormented Virginia Giuffre, who killed herself last year?

I'll say it again: what we need is accountability. Who knew what, and when.

If Andrew leaked documents to Epstein during his time as a trade envoy, he must face the same scrutiny as Peter Mandelson, whose homes have been searched by police.

Andrew’s residence, Royal Lodge, has been emptied. Has everything gone to Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate or is it being stored elsewhere?

The Freedom of Information Act doesn’t cover royal documents – which means communications could stay buried for years, if not centuries. What good does that do anyone?

Victims want answers. The American Congress wants Andrew to give evidence – and if he doesn’t, Charles’s state visit to the USA in April will be hijacked.

The King knows this. He’s fretting about it.

They say the cover-up is sometimes worse than the crime. Not in this case, because the alleged crimes are monstrous. But the stonewalling is impacting the reputation of the monarchy.

Andrew insists he’s done nothing wrong. Fine. Then let him say so under oath. Let him testify to what he saw, what he knows, what he did. If he is innocent, transparency will be his friend. But Charles can no longer wait for his brother to develop a conscience.

The King must go further. He needs to address the nation on television.

To make clear this institution will not shelter anyone from accountability.

Apologise on behalf of the monarchy for the pain caused to victims, even though he personally bears no blame.

Only Charles can put out the fire. Before there’s nothing left to save.

• Robert Jobson is author of The Windsor Legacy