King heckled over Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein during visit

The King has been heckled over his brother Prince Andrew's relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a visit to a cathedral.

The monarch was shouted at by a man in the crowd outside Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire, who asked: "How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?"

The protester, who was filming on a mobile phone, also said: "Have you asked the police to cover up for Andrew? Should MPs be allowed to debate the royals in the House of Commons?"

The King did not respond to the comments.

The crowd appeared to turn on the person shouting at the monarch, with one telling him to "shut up".

Graham Smith, chief executive of anti-monarchy group Republic, said he believed the heckler was "one of our own members but doing their own thing".

He said: "The royals need to be challenged, and if the politicians won't do the job and the police won't investigate, then more and more members of the public will be asking tough questions.

"We want to see broadcasters invite Charles into a studio and ask him the same questions."

Andrew under increasing pressure

Pressure has been rapidly increasing on the King's sibling, who announced earlier this month he would stop using his Duke of York title and his knighthood, after revelations in the posthumous memoir of his sex assault accuser, Virginia Giuffre.

The prince has always strenuously denied all allegations against him from Ms Giuffre.

Reports also emerged that claimed Prince Andrew asked a royal close protection officer to "dig up dirt" on the late Ms Giuffre.

As a result of these new allegations, the Metropolitan Police said it is "actively looking into the claims".

Calls to revoke dukedom

There are growing calls for his dukedom to be formally revoked, which can only be done by an act of parliament, and for him to give up his 30-room Royal Lodge home in Windsor Great Park after it emerged he paid a peppercorn (nominal) rent for more than 20 years.

Andrew has been hit with criticism focused on the property he has lived in effectively rent-free since 2003.

Obstacles to a settlement are reportedly where Andrew, who is eighth in line to the throne, will live and what financial recompense he will receive for the funds he spent renovating the home.

After the visit to the cathedral, the King laid flowers at the UK's first national memorial commemorating LGBT armed forces.

He was joined by dozens of serving and former members of the armed forces, as he met veterans who told of the trauma inflicted by the military's former "gay ban".

The memorial, titled An Opened Letter, was unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum.

(c) Sky News 2025: King heckled over Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein during visit