William and Catherine express concern as Epstein documents roil monarchy

“I can confirm that the Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continued revelations,” Kensington Palace said, adding, “Their thoughts remain focused on the victims.” The brief statement, issued Feb. 9, 2026, accompanied the Prince of Wales as he departed on a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia.

The remarks came after the U.S. Department of Justice released more than 3 million pages of material late in January that have renewed scrutiny of Jeffrey Epstein’s network. Reporting from the files has described a wide-reaching web of wealthy and influential figures linked to abuse of women and girls, prompting public outrage and probing by law enforcement on both sides of the Atlantic.

William and Catherine’s comment was the first time Britain’s most prominent working royals have publicly addressed the latest batch of documents. Palace officials framed the statement as an expression of sympathy for victims while the royal household contends with fallout tied to the king’s brother, formerly known as Prince Andrew.

Andrew, now styled as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was stripped of his royal titles in October after earlier revelations about his relationship with Epstein. He is 65 years old. The new documents include emails and other files that, reporting has said, suggest a continued closeness between Andrew and Epstein even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

The scandal has prompted both criminal and administrative responses. UK police said they were “assessing” reports that the former prince sent trade reports to Epstein in 2010. Buckingham Palace said King Charles III is ready to “support” those inquiries. In a separate palace statement, the king and Queen Camilla reiterated the family’s sympathy, saying, “Their Majesties' thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.”

The king’s interventions have also had practical consequences for Andrew. The household moved to accelerate his departure from Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, forcing him to leave last week in a shift that had been announced in October but was not expected to be completed until later this year. An anti-monarchy campaigner said he has filed complaints alleging suspected misconduct in public office and breaches of Britain’s Official Secrets Act based on emails among the DOJ documents.

No criminal charges have been announced in connection with the newly released pages; authorities stress that police are still assessing allegations and that complaints have been made. Still, the disclosures have intensified pressure on a monarchy already grappling with questions of judgment, access and accountability.

As William carries out his diplomatic duties in the Middle East, the palace’s wording underscored a dual priority: offering solidarity to victims while managing an unfolding reputational crisis at the heart of the royal family.