Prince Andrew attended the funeral of the Duchess of Kent in London hours before the arrival of Donald Trump to Britain.
The Duke of York retreated from public life in November 2019 after a car crash interview with the BBC about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, but attended the requiem mass at Westminster Cathedral on Tuesday afternoon.
It is an awkward time for Andrew—Britain’s most unpopular royal—to have reminded the country of his role in the family.
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Epstein was already casting an awkward shadow over the president’s second state visit to the U.K. in the wake of Britain’s ambassador to America, Peter Mandelson, being sacked over a fawning message he wrote the New York financier.
And Trump has of course been in the midst of his own backlash, following the publication of a birthday message to Epstein that appeared to have been signed by him. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said Trump “did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.”
Protesters were also quick to make capital out of the saga by unfurling a huge banner of Trump with Epstein in Windsor on Monday, a day before Andrew’s appearance.
Trump was due to arrive in England in the evening, local time, ahead of a busy day of royal pomp and pageantry at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
Trump said in July he turned down an invitation to Epstein’s island, Little St James, and has been dismissive of their friendship, saying they fell out years ago because Epstein.
Last week, Leavitt posted on X: “The latest piece published by the Wall Street Journal PROVES this entire ‘Birthday Card’ story is false. As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it. President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation. This is FAKE NEWS to perpetuate the Democrat Epstein Hoax!”
Virginia Giuffre sued Prince Andrew at civil court in New York accusing him of raping her in London, New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands when she was a 17-year-old sex trafficking victim. He settled out of court while denying liability and has always maintained his innocence.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla pulled out of Katharine, Duchess of Kent’s funeral as she recovers from acute sinusitis.
King Charles III, Prince William and Princess Kate all attended the first Catholic funeral for a British royal in modern times.
A message sent to the king from Pope Leo XIV was read out: “I was saddened to learn of the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent, and I send heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayerful closeness, to Your Majesty, the Members of the Royal Family, and especially to her husband, The Duke of Kent, and their children and grandchildren at this time of sorrow.
“Entrusting her noble soul to the mercy of our Heavenly Father, I readily associate myself with all those offering thanksgiving to Almighty God for The Duchess’s legacy of Christian goodness, seen in her many years of dedication to official duties, patronage of charities, and devoted care for vulnerable people in society.
“To all who mourn her loss, in the sure hope of the Resurrection, I willingly impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Risen Lord.”
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