There was no reaction but we know Prince William and his team at least heard the shout, even if they didn’t hear the full question.
As William walked off a football pitch on the outskirts of Riyadh, where he is on an official visit, a reporter asked the prince: «Sir, to what extent do you think the Royal Family has done enough around the Andrew and Epstein issue?»
The palace is trying to keep this trip to Saudi on track, with no cancellations or obvious adjustments to engagements.
They want to remind us that William is used to navigating difficult times and takes his role seriously. If nothing else, they hope the heir and his family show the monarchy has got a positive future, at a time when they really need it, as they continue to compete against the seemingly uncontrollable noise around Andrew and Epstein.
It’s clear from the statements released on Monday that something has shifted over the past few days.
William and Kate publicly addressed the Epstein scandal for the first time, with Kensington Palace saying they were «deeply concerned» at the «continued revelations» and that their thoughts «remain focused on the victims».
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace said the King had «profound concern» over claims about Andrew and it would support police if contacted.
Silence was not an option, with the questions about what information Andrew was sharing during his time as trade envoy going right to the heart of the Royal Family’s public purpose and what they’re meant to be about.
Andrew has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Neither William nor the King have spoken about it on camera – not really a surprise – and William wasn’t going to do it here in Saudi.
Silence was not an option, with the questions about what information Andrew was sharing during his time as trade envoy going right to the heart of the Royal Family’s public purpose and what they’re meant to be about.
Andrew has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Neither William nor the King have spoken about it on camera – not really a surprise – and William wasn’t going to do it here in Saudi.
Por Michael Bunting
“I’m Michael Bunting, Communications Director with over 20 years of experience in corporate reputation, crisis management, and digital strategy. I have led teams in multinational companies and agencies, advised executives, and designed high-impact strategies. I am driven by transparency, innovation, and leveraging communication as a competitive advantage.”