Epstein Files Deepen Royal Tensions

Video from the Duchess of Kent’s funeral showed Prince William appear to lean toward Prince Andrew and cover his mouth as Andrew abruptly stopped grinning, a moment that highlighted tensions and reporting that Andrew and Sarah Ferguson are being kept at arm’s length from some royal events, including Christmas at Sandringham. Newly released Epstein files allege Prince Andrew traveled to Palm Beach to see Jeffrey Epstein during a taxpayer-funded NSPCC trip in May 2000, intensifying scrutiny of his ties to the disgraced financier. King Charles III is undergoing cancer treatment, which has raised William’s public role and prompted concern over the monarchy’s future; insiders say Charles and William remain largely aligned. The family is also contending with reports of a rift between King Charles and Prince Harry, with speculation about a possible North American trip where reconciliation could be sought. William has shown a more vulnerable side in a recent Apple TV+ clip, saying he misses his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and calling recent years “the hardest.”