The ongoing controversy surrounding a senior royal’s association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein continues to escalate, with a prominent royal historian now suggesting a criminal trial may be inevitable.
The individual, who recently relinquished his formal ducal title in what was described as a voluntary move, remains at the center of a storm of allegations linked to the Epstein trafficking network. According to the biographer, the royal family is facing its most severe institutional crisis in decades, and the legal pressure is only mounting.
“The attempt to manage the narrative has, in my view, failed completely,” the historian stated during a recent media appearance. “Public sentiment has moved far beyond symbolic gestures. There is a growing demand for tangible accountability and for him to be removed from his official residence.”
The comments were made following the posthumous publication of a memoir by an accuser, which contained new allegations. The historian warned that further damaging disclosures are expected, including additional victim accounts and potential evidence from official investigations abroad.
“Had he prioritized the monarchy’s interests from the beginning, this would have been resolved differently,” the commentator argued, criticizing the palace’s handling of the situation as ineffective and belated. He also noted that despite the title renouncement, the royal in question has been informally using styles he was meant to abandon.
The palace recently issued a statement on the individual’s behalf, announcing the decision to cease using the title and associated honors. The statement reiterated a vigorous denial of all accusations and cited a desire to prevent further distraction from the monarch’s duties.
However, critics argue the move is insufficient. The central question now, as framed by observers, is no longer about titles but about legal culpability and whether the judicial system will become the next arena for this protracted scandal.
