Trump says he feels ‘badly’ for Britain’s royal family over Andrew-Epstein saga

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE - US President Donald Trump on Nov 2 said he felt “badly” for the British royal family after King Charles revoked his brother Andrew’s title of prince over his scandalous ties to late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“I feel very badly. I mean, it’s a terrible thing that’s happened to the family,” Mr Trump said when asked by an AFP reporter aboard Air Force One about the recent saga.

“That’s been a tragic situation, and it’s too bad. I mean, I feel badly for the family.”

Mr Trump, 79, has faced his own political woes in recent months over his own alleged relationship with Epstein, the New York financier and who died in prison in 2019.

His comments came as the British government said it would move to strip the former prince, now known as Mr Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, of his

honorary title of vice-admiral,

his last remaining military rank.

The US president has frequently expressed admiration for Britain’s royal family, most recently when

King Charles hosted him for a lavish state visit

in September.

Mr Trump received a full state dinner at Windsor Castle, military parades and a flyover during the visit.

But the so-called Epstein files have been the focal point of a controversy engulfing the second presidency of Mr Trump, who was a long-time friend of Epstein.

In July, the Trump administration announced that it had discovered no new evidence justifying the release of additional documents or the opening of a new investigation into the matter.

Epstein died while awaiting trial for alleged sex trafficking of underage girls recruited to provide him with sexual massages.

Conspiracy theories

The authorities ruled his death a suicide

, but it has fuelled countless conspiracy theories among Mr Trump’s voter base that he was murdered to prevent him from implicating high-profile figures.

Republican Trump has repeatedly denied any involvement with the Epstein affair, dismissing it as a “hoax” by rival Democrats.

Former prince Andrew’s ties to Epstein have sparked growing anger in Britain.

King Charles on Oct 30 removed all his

younger brother’s remaining royal titles and honours

and ousted him from his long-term residence on the Windsor estate.

Defence minister John Healey told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg programme that “guided again by the King, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has.”.

Andrew was previously stripped of his honorary military titles by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022 after he was sued by Ms Virginia Giuffre, Epstein’s main accuser.

The King’s younger brother was once feted for his role as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot in the 1982 Falklands War. He retired in 2001 after 22 years of service.

Andrew has always denied that he sexually abused Ms Giuffre, who said in her posthumous memoir published in October that she was trafficked to have sex with him on three occasions, twice when she was just 17. AFP