The British royal family is confronting one of the most challenging periods in its modern history as a cascade of new allegations and disclosures connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein continues to reverberate through the institution.

At the centre of the storm is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York and younger brother of King Charles III, whose long-standing association with Epstein has led to renewed public scrutiny, new police assessments and rapid changes in his status within the monarchy.

In late 2025, King Charles III formally stripped Mountbatten-Windsor of his royal titles and honours and moved him out of his longtime residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor — actions officials described as necessary to distance the institution from the fallout of last week’s release of United States Department of Justice documents.

The newly surfaced files include emails and correspondence suggesting extended contact between Mountbatten-Windsor, his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and Epstein well after the latter’s 2008 conviction, and reveal interactions that palace insiders have called deeply damaging to the monarchy’s reputation.

Thames Valley Police are now assessing fresh allegations that Epstein trafficked a woman to the UK in 2010 for an alleged encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor at Royal Lodge, although no formal complaint has yet been filed.

Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all wrongdoing related to Epstein.

He earlier settled a civil claim by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability, and his legal team has declined to comment on the latest claims.

Nonetheless, his public standing has collapsed; recent polling suggests his popularity among the British public has plunged to single digits.

Meanwhile, his ex-wife’s email exchanges with Epstein from the same period — in which she expressed personal anxieties and sought assistance — have drawn additional attention and reinvigorated debate about the family’s judgment.

The scandal has also exposed tensions within the royal household and among senior members.

Reports indicate that Prince William is pressing for a decisive rebranding of the monarchy and stricter limits on Mountbatten-Windsor’s involvement in any future royal occasions, reflecting broader concerns about reputational risk.

Queen Camilla has skirted questions about the affair during public engagements, and senior royals including Prince Edward have emphasised the importance of remembering victims amid the controversy.

As the crisis unfolds, questions about whether further revelations will emerge from the extensive trove of Epstein-linked documents linger.

The situation has already prompted political commentary in the United Kingdom and abroad, with some observers suggesting that the institution must undertake significant reform to rebuild public confidence.

Mountbatten-Windsor’s relocation to the Sandringham estate and his retreat from the public eye symbolise the depth of the family’s current predicament, even as his defenders maintain his denials and the royal household seeks to manage the broader fallout with caution and resolve.