Pressure grows on King to say sorry over Andrew saga: Women abused by Epstein demand end to ‘lip service for Royal Family’s failings’

The King is facing growing calls to issue an official apology after fresh allegations that Jeffrey Epstein facilitated sexual encounters for the then-Prince Andrew at royal residences.

Victims of the paedophile financier said the monarch needed to take accountability for the ‘organisation’s failings’ and should also apologise to the family of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s late accuser Virginia Giuffre.

Buckingham Palace has never acknowledged wrongdoing or formally apologised over Andrew’s relationship with Epstein.

It has been accused of delivering nothing more than ‘lip service’ in statements about the scandal.

Now lawyers for a second woman who claims Epstein sent her to the UK for a sexual encounter with Andrew at Royal Lodge in 2010 have urged King Charles to issue a ‘real apology’.

Brad Edwards, from US law firm Edwards Henderson, said: ‘To the King I would say: why not at least listen to the details of the story?

‘After that issue a sincere, real apology on behalf of Andrew and any role played by the Royal Family. That world was only possible because Andrew was who he was.’

He added that the victims wanted ‘a real apology – not just lip service’.

The King is also facing calls to apologise to the late accuser Virginia Guiffre’s family after the royals have never acknowledged any wrong doing. Pictured with Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell

Epstein survivor Marijke Chartouni told the Daily Mail: ‘The Royal Family is a carefully managed endeavour and so claiming ignorance to Andrew’s activities is absurd. It’s time for the King to address his organisation’s failings.’

Another survivor, Maria Farmer, said it was ‘shocking the royals have still not issued an apology’ to the family of Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide last year after insisting she had sex with Andrew on three occasions aged 17.

Last October, the King stripped Andrew of all his remaining titles – most notably that of his birthright of prince – and forced him out of his Windsor home Royal Lodge.

It was made clear at the time the decision had been made due to serious and prolific lapses in Andrew’s judgment, despite him continuing to vehemently deny the allegations against him.

Notably, both the King and his wife made a point of saying ‘their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse’.

It was the first time any such expression had been issued by the palace and came directly from Charles and Camilla.

Last week, Prince Edward became the first royal to comment on the latest Epstein files, saying it is ‘really important to remember the victims’.

A royal source told the Daily Mail last night: ‘Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been and remain with the victims of any and all forms of abuse, as remains the case today.’

It comes amid renewed calls for a criminal investigation as disturbing new details about Andrew’s activities continue to emerge in the latest tranche of three million documents released in the Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.