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As newly released U.S. government documents linked to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continue to prompt scrutiny of his associates, pressure is growing on Britain\u2019s Royal Family, with campaigners and commentators arguing that the fallout may extend beyond Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew.<\/p>\n
The pressure intensified this week after anti\u2011monarchy campaign group Republic reported Prince William\u2019s environmental charity, the Earthshot Prize, to the U.K.\u2019s Charity Commission, citing concerns raised by the latest tranche of Epstein\u2011related documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice.<\/p>\n
Republic said the new disclosures have broadened scrutiny of the monarchy as an institution, and Prince William now has “lots of questions to answer.”<\/p>\n
Graham Smith, Republic’s chief executive, told\u00a0Newsweek<\/em> the latest development “adds to the general smell test, further lifting the lid on a rather grubby world of rich and powerful men.”<\/p>\n He said: “At any other time the story may have attracted limited interest, but the shocking email sent to Sulayem and William\u2019s own lack of action or comment on the scandal around Andrew only drags him into the mire.”<\/p>\n A spokesperson has however conveyed Prince William’s<\/a> sympathy for the victims<\/a> of Jeffrey Epstein’s network in a statement in Riyadh at the start of William’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday. “I can confirm The Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply\u00a0concerned by the continuing revelations,” the spokesperson said, quoted by Sky News. “Their thoughts remain focused on the victims.”<\/p>\n Newsweek <\/em>has contacted the press offices of Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace via email, and the Earthshot Prize via social media, for comment.<\/p>\n For the royal family, scrutiny has largely centered on Mountbatten-Windsor, who stepped back from public duties following backlash over his association with Epstein and was later stripped of his titles by King Charles III. The latest developments mark a shift in focus, with critics arguing that the handling of the issue raises broader questions for the monarchy\u2019s credibility and accountability.<\/p>\n The latest controversy centers on Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, former chairman<\/a> and chief executive of global logistics company DP World, which is listed as a founding partner of the Earthshot Prize and has donated at least \u00a31 million to the charity, according to Republic. Bin Sulayem was replaced as CEO of DP World<\/a> as he came under scrutiny over alleged links to Epstein, although no wrongdoing has been formally established.<\/p>\n On Monday, Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie said on X that the Justice Department had identified bin Sulayem as the recipient of an April 2009 email from Epstein referencing a “torture video,” the nature and content of which are not known. The email was included in the roughly 3 million pages of material released on January 30 released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, has reignited public debate about Epstein\u2019s relationships with prominent figures in politics, business and international affairs.<\/p>\n Another email sent to Epstein in 2013 names a “Sultan bin Sulayem” as the sender and reads: “By the way the Ukrainian and the Moldavian arrived. Big disappointment the Moldavian is not as attractive as the picture while the Ukrainian is very Republic said the disclosure prompted it to lodge a formal complaint with the U.K.\u2019s Charity Commission, requesting clarity on what due diligence was conducted before DP World became a partner of Earthshot. Smith said “the seriousness of this matter requires a full and comprehensive investigation.”<\/p>\n Earthshot\u2019s partnership is with DP World as a company, not with its chief executive personally. William and bin Sulayem have been photographed together at official events linked to the charity. There is no suggestion that Prince William is involved in any wrongdoing because of this association.<\/p>\nWhy It Matters<\/h2>\n
What To Know<\/h2>\n
beautiful.” Epstein replied: “Photo shop.”<\/p>\n