TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Prince William and Princess Kate, or Kate Middleton, have spoken out for the first time about the recent release of US government files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, known as the Epstein files.
Among the more than three million documents released by the US Department of Justice are photographs of Prince William's uncle, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew.
"I can confirm The Prince and Princess have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims," a Kensington Palace spokesperson said in a statement to the media on Monday ahead of William's trip to Saudi Arabia, as reported by USA Today.
The couple's statement comes more than a week after the US Department of Justice released additional files related to the Epstein investigation.
In the documents, Andrew, King Charles' brother, is seen in several photographs, including one in which he kneels on all fours over an unidentified woman lying on the ground.
Emails also appear to show that Andrew allegedly maintained regular contact with Epstein for more than two years after Epstein was convicted of sex crimes.
Andrew has appeared in numerous pages and images released by the US government about Epstein since last fall.
For years, Andrew has faced controversy related to his alleged relationship with Epstein, although he has denied the allegations of sexual abuse. He has never been criminally charged.
In October 2025, he was stripped of his royal titles and evicted from his residence at Royal Lodge. Three years earlier, he had also been removed from his position as a senior member of the royal family.
In 2022, Andrew settled a lawsuit filed by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an Epstein accuser. She accused Andrew of raping her as a teenager. Giuffre died in 2025 of an apparent suicide.
Andrew May Be Probed
In a separate incident, Britain's Buckingham Palace expressed its willingness to assist police in assessing the allegations against Andrew in the Epstein scandal.
Thames Valley Police confirmed they were investigating claims that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he is now known, shared confidential documents with Epstein while serving as Britain's trade envoy.
An email exchange dated November 30, 2010, appears to show Mountbatten-Windsor forwarding to Epstein what it describes as “visit reports for Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shenzhen” relating to an official visit he made to Southeast Asia.
A separate email from Christmas Eve 2010 appears to show Mountbatten-Windsor sharing with Epstein what it describes as a confidential briefing on investment opportunities related to the reconstruction of Helmand province in Afghanistan.
The former royal has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
In a statement, as reported by Anadolu Agency, Buckingham Palace said, “the King (Charles) has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor's conduct.”
The Palace added that the responsibility for addressing the specific allegations rests with Mountbatten-Windsor himself. However, they indicated they would cooperate with any police investigation.
“While the specific claims in question are for Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police, we stand ready to support them as you would expect,” the statement said.
Buckingham also reiterated his position regarding victims of Epstein’s sex crimes, saying, “As was previously stated, Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.”
Mountbatten-Windsor, 65, stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after her relationship with Epstein became public. In 2022, he settled a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, an American who accused Epstein of trafficking her to Andrew when she was 17.
Giuffre died last year, and her posthumous memoir includes several specific claims implicating Andrew.
He also renounced other royal titles, including Duke of York, amid mounting allegations about his relationship with Epstein.
Andrew has consistently denied the allegations, and the settlement does not include any admission of liability.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Andrew should testify about Epstein. The Labour leader also urged Andrew to comply with US lawmakers if they ask him to testify about his relationship with Epstein.
"Anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do that," Starmer told reporters on January 31, answering questions about the royal family member.
He added, "You can’t be victim centered if you’re not prepared to do that."
Read: Epstein Lawyers Demand CIA and NSA to Release Old Files
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