Prince William demands King Charles cut ties with Andrew and Fergie over Epstein scandal

Prince William is said to be pushing his father King Charles to take tough action against Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson following renewed controversy over their past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The pressure comes after Sarah was linked to fresh emails where she described Epstein as a “supreme friend” and apologized for letting him down.

Several UK charities quickly distanced themselves from the Duchess of York on Monday, cutting ties after the Mail on Sunday revealed the 2011 message. In it, Sarah called Epstein a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend” while asking for his forgiveness.

The resurfaced remarks reignited criticism of both her and Andrew, who has already stepped back from public duties due to his own association with the disgraced financier.

According to reports from the Daily Mail, Prince William and King Charles do not fully see eye to eye on how to handle the situation. Insiders told the paper that William is even firmer than his father on the issue and believes the couple are a stain on the monarchy’s image.

One source said: “William feels even more strongly than the King that Andrew and Fergie are an embarrassment and will be urging his father to act.” The source added bluntly: “The optics of that pair of chancers guffawing away [at events] look terrible.”

The reports suggest the Prince of Wales wants his father to seize the chance to draw a line and formally exclude the pair. That could mean cutting them off from their residence near Windsor Castle, a sprawling 30-bedroom property they currently share. The Daily Mail claimed William has been urging Charles to consider forcing them out, arguing that continuing to accommodate them damages the family’s reputation.

The idea of pushing Andrew and Fergie further out of the royal circle is not new, but the resurfacing of the email has reignited calls for decisive action. For William, the focus is firmly on safeguarding the long-term image of the monarchy. Sources say he is determined that neither Andrew nor Sarah should appear at official events again, warning that allowing them to mingle publicly would only drag the institution into more controversy.

King Charles is reportedly weighing his son’s advice carefully but faces a delicate balancing act. On one hand, Andrew remains his younger brother, and Sarah has continued to have a presence around the family despite her divorce. On the other, public opinion has long been unforgiving, and renewed headlines about Epstein only sharpen scrutiny.

The tension highlights the generational difference in approach, with William seen as far more ruthless about protecting the monarchy’s standing. While Charles has been accused of taking a more cautious stance, insiders say William sees the reputational risk as too great to ignore. The future king, they argue, is less sentimental and more focused on what will ensure stability for the Royal Family in years to come.

What is clear is that the pressure on Charles is mounting, with William’s stance making it harder for the King to maintain a middle ground. The fallout from Sarah’s words and Andrew’s past associations continues to cast a shadow, and the next move from Buckingham Palace will be closely watched both at home and abroad.