Epstein survivors gather at Washington Monument memorial requesting meeting with King Charles
Over 100 people attended the event on the anniversary of Virginia Giuffre's death, calling for royal engagement with abuse survivors ahead of state visit
Quick Look
- More than 100 Epstein survivors and supporters gathered near the Washington Monument for a memorial event marking one year since Virginia Giuffre's death, requesting a meeting with King Charles during his state visit.
- Speakers including Sky Roberts and Wendy Pesante called for royal engagement, arguing the monarchy must meet survivors to make informed decisions.
- No meeting is expected due to concerns about interfering with ongoing legal proceedings.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The memorial marks one year since Virginia Giuffre's death. She was a prominent accuser of Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew, having written a memoir about being abused by Epstein. Her legal action against Prince Andrew ended in a financial settlement, which he has always denied.
With the White House in the background, her brother Sky Roberts spoke of how his sister, a prominent accuser of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, had turned "pain into purpose". The event was held ahead of the arrival of the King and Queen in Washington DC on a state visit.
McCawley said she appreciated the concerns about the King not wanting to jeopardise any legal proceedings by holding a meeting, but she thought survivors would have understood if he listened without having to say anything. There were more than 100 people gathered near to the Washington Monument, including Sydney Beasly, originally from Kentucky. She also thought the royal visitors should have included a meeting with Epstein survivors during their US stay.
"If the monarchy wants to be relevant in the future, they have to meet all types of people, including survivors, so they can make informed decisions. It's about increasing awareness," she said.
Sky Roberts told the BBC's Newsnight last week: "We need the King of England to stand up and show his unity with survivors... And all we ask is for a 10-minute meeting with the King to show him that we're real people, with real feelings."
It's not expected that there will be any meeting with survivors during the state visit, because of worries about interfering with the legal process. The event was a mix of speeches, music and performance, with campaigners holding up posters saying "Survivors are powerful", at a memorial held a year after Giuffre had taken her own life.
She had written a memoir about being abused by Epstein and had been an accuser of the then Prince Andrew, in a legal action that ended in a financial settlement. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing. He said the process of holding people to account had become an "irreversible reckoning". And the Democrat lawmaker blamed an "unequal and morally impoverished society, a legal and criminal justice system contaminated by corruption and privilege and our political system infected with complacency".
An Epstein survivor Wendy Pesante told the gathering: "Today serves as both a memorial and a reminder of the importance of us continuing to come together and speak out."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
No meeting between King Charles and Epstein survivors will occur during the state visit
Very likely · Within days
The memorial and requests will receive continued media coverage
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will King Charles meet with any survivors during the state visit?
- What legal proceedings is the King concerned about jeopardizing?
- How will this affect public perception of the British monarchy?
